What Would We Lose?
Disclaimer: I do not own any of Tolkiens magnificant works nor am I getting paid for this. None of the characters are mine except Caimac (OC), andNerdanel...whose name is from the Sillamarian but based on a character I made up...so she's mine. Again...I don't own any of the original character.
Rated: PG-13 some voilence torture and cursing...not good for the little ones.
Summary: A close friend of Legolas' is in the hands of humans who want power over the Elven Kingdoms. How long will it take for them to gain the information they seek? how long will it take for that friend to be saved? How far will the bonds of friendship and duty go to keep that information safe?
Chapter 2: For That We Suffer
Pain drips around me
Blood slowly rolls down a cold cheek
It lets me know
I'm still alive...only just
Crystal eyes opened as a cold drop of liquid hit and rolled down Nerdanel cheek. Pain assailed her senses as she moved to breathe. Explosions of pain sent a display of colors into her eyes as she moved. Everything hurt to move, but she bared and moved into a more comfortable position. The remnants of the dream lingered on her thoughts as she gently laid her head on the cool wall, letting the stone cool her wounds. She remembered his name, remembered his face, and remembered how much fun they had avoiding the guards. She smiled weakly at she remembered how he had promised to be there by her side because friends had to stick together. 'Some friend.' She thought to herself. Moving she that her legs were beneath her, the Elf closed her eyes and thought about the better times. The soft glow around her grew brighter and the darkness didn't seem so dark after a while. Soon she began to laugh. Softly at first but slowly it grew as she remembered her dear friend.
"Laughing are we. Well glad to see that you are happy wench. Maybe we can make your life better for you." Caimac leaned against the wall of the cave. "I hope that you accommodations are to your liking. I know how you Elves like things dark."
"Stay your tongue mortal! You know nothing of my kind!" The Elf smarted as she looked at the man before her.
The man walked over and struck her across the face. Nerdanel's head snapped viciously to the side as her lip cracked open letting blood flow freely. Grabbing her long hair, knotted and dirty in his hand, he pulled her head back so she could not look away.
"You'll learn to keep your tongue still as well until you tell us who your lord is. Until then you'll speak nothing of your sorcery. And today you'll learn just what it means to be in pain. But first a memory for me." The man beckoned for his soldiers to come from the shadows and hold the Elf.
She hissed as the men roughly held her arms to her sides forcing her to kneel on her knees head almost to the ground. Their boots dug into the skin of her back as they kept her down. The sound of metal on metal echoed through the cave as the captain advanced with a long dagger. Nerdanel struggled to move away but the men pressed down harder making her hiss in pain. The captain knelt next to her and grabbed her hair in a bunch.
"May this let you know that you aren't that beautiful Elf. None of your race are." Caimac spoke, his voice barely a whisper, as he took the knife and cut that hair away in a clump.
Nerdanel gasped in pain as her breath left her lungs as the hair was cut away. She felt the loose strands of hair fall around her neck and the shortened locks fall into her eyes. The hair was jagged and all different lengths. Not as beautiful as it once was. A single tear fell down her face as she remembered why she went through this torment: not for herself but for the friend she was trying to protect. A string of Elvish escaped her lips as she was set free from the men's hold.
"Be silent!" the captain kicked the Elf in the stomach harshly, sending her flying into the stone wall. He smiled evilly as she hit, a soft cry escaping her lips as she curled into a ball on the ground, trembling and shivering, itching for a chance to fight. "Men take her. You know where to go."
The men grunted in acknowledgement as they gathered around the Elven maiden. They roughly undid the chain from the wall and pulled it, yanking the woman to her feet. She swayed violently and fell to the floor only to be pulled to her feet again. This time she stayed on her feet, her legs trembling with the weight of her body suffering after being immobile. The manacles around her wrists bled furiously as the metal bit into the skin but no one noticed. One man took the chain and roughly pulled at it dragging Nerdanel behind him, every so often making sure to cause her pain. But the entire time she didn't cry out, she accepted her fate. They lead her through the twisting passage way until they reached a wooden door. The Elf had seen this door many times before. It had once brought fear into her heart, but it did no longer. Her once flawless body was covered in welts and scars that came from that room, her punishment for keeping a secret. She did not flinch when the doors opened, the flare of light assailing eyes used to darkness the pain of old wounds echoed through her mind. She held her head proudly as she once did years ago as she walked into the room.
"So here we are again. I give you the chance to spare yourself any more pain. Just tell us who your lord is. It would really be easier that way." Caimac paced in front of the Elf.
With steely eyes Nerdanel watched the man before her with a hunters stare. Her jaw clenched as she bit the inside of her cheek, not saying a word. Ice covered her eyes as she defied the man-as she did each time he asked.
"Never." She replied with a cool resolve.
"So be it." Caimac flicked his hand in the air and the men quickly moved to take the Elf to the table in the center of the room.
The table was of cruel make, with bonds to make sure that no prisoner could escape, or even hope to get away. Sinister devices littered the trays and tables beside it. Medical tools she once used littered another tray, scalpels, clamps, and other devices gleamed in the light. A fire was banked, the coals burning a deep red as metal rods, brands and swords sat in the coals. The Elf wasn't worried as they dragged her to the table; she was going to fight today.
Slender fingers still held the strength of an archer as they were dug into the soft human skin. Blood was drawn as one man dropped his hold on Nerdanel. Another fell to a quick jab in the throat as he fell to the floor choking. She started to flee, her hand was on the door, and freedom was so close. But as she placed her hand on the door an arrow flew through the air pinning her hand to the wood. A cry of surprise escaped her lips as blood covered her hand and the shaft of the arrow.
"Now that was foolish girl. Thinking you could just get away like that." Caimac walked over the bow at his side. "How does it feel to be shot by your own arrow and bow? Painful isn't it? Just imagine that but your body pierced by all of your arrows saving one for your heart."
Nerdanel stopped moving welcoming the pain, letting the blood flow. She winced as Caimac ripped the arrow from the wood of the door and through her hand making the wound even larger.
"Beautiful isn't it?" he waved the bloodied arrow under her nose as she sunk to the floor. "Seeing your own blood on your own weapon." Caimac touched the blood smoothing it between his fingers as he walked over to the Elf and trailed the blood on her cheek. The iron- smell of her blood made her stomach squirm. "Enough games. You will speak today. I will make you." Caimac growled as the Elf made no move away from his. He forcefully grabbed her wrist and dragged her over to the table making sure that she he caused as much damage on the way as possible. "One way or another I will make you scream."
Nerdanel didn't have the power to stop the rough man as he pulled her towards the sinister table. Her head hit the table with a clang as she was thrown heftily onto the top of it. Men surrounded her holding her down as leather restraints were put around her wrists and ankles followed by manacles which were chained to the table side. Nerdanel gave them no reason to hurt her and didn't resist. After the bonds were tied and secured the men left hiding back in the shadows again; Caimac remained. The gruff man paced the table side, touching the fletching on the ends of the arrows, admiring the precision and technicality.
"You should stop pacing human. You'll wear a hole in the floor and make yourself dizzy." Nerdanel turned her head to the side to watch the man.
"You should keep your mouth shut Elf." Caimac hissed viciously as his face twisted with hatred then smoothed out. "Naïve. So naïve. I'll give you another chance…who is your lord?"
"…." Nerdanel's eyes fixed gaze looked into the humans. She bit her tongue and wouldn't speak.
"Well then. Close up or far away?" Caimac put his hands on the tray where the bow rested and notched the arrow.
Nerdanel cocked her head the side, not understanding the question. She closed her eyes, and tried to figure out if she had missed any of the conversation…selective hearing could do that. But she had missed nothing. During her musings Caimac had gotten up onto the table and stood over her, arrow level with her heart. Nerdanel looked up at the human with no fear in her eyes. The human had come this far without killing her…he still needed her- there was no reason for her to die now. The sights of her bow left her heart and were aimed at her left arm. The twang of string echoed the air as the arrow bit through the flesh of her forearm, passing directly between the ulna and radius then barely punctured the metal. Nerdanel bit her lip to the point where blood trickled down her chin. She winced, shuddering in pain and wishing she could tear the arrow out, but her arms were hindered by the restraints. The blood pooled under her arms as Caimac jumped off the table, walking over to assess the wound.
"Damn I think I missed. I was going to try for something more vital but my aim is off. Elvish weapons are overrated." He threw the bow across the room and it hit the wall with a clatter. "Looks like you're in pain. Do you want me to help you?" Caimac grasped the shaft of the arrow and twisted it viciously tearing, the skin of her underarm making the exit wound larger.
Nerdanel bit her tongue to stop from saying a word, the metallic tang of blood filled her mouth, but she didn't taste it. She had become too accustomed to the taste of her own blood. Her hand instinctively clenched, sending a whole new pain through her arm as muscles separated by the wound moved. Quickly she let her hand release letting it set limply at her side.
"Oh what? That didn't help? I thought it would've. Maybe this will work." Caimac smirked as he pulled the arrow through the wound twisting it as much as he could before he pulled it out. He watched as the Elf's body tensed at the harsh movement. Those delicate eyes closed concentrating on not screaming…not giving in.
Nerdanel finally remembered to open her eyes and slowed her breathing down to conserve her strength. Her breath turned to deep and methodical as she was trying not to cause a chain reaction of pain starting in her ribs. The blood she felt leaving her boyd worried her, despite the fact she knew Caimac wouldn't go far-he was too concerned with keeping her to get his answer-he always tended to the wounds he created to make sure she stayed alive and lived in hell. She turned her eyes to the twisted man who spun the arrow in his fingers, his eyes darker then before.
"Found your tongue yet?" Caimac smiled as if he were her best friend.
"…. I won't speak." Nerdanel spoke trying to cover the shakiness of her voice.
"Obnoxious brat."
"Would you really want it any other way?" Nerdanel goaded, a mischievous smile teased at her lips as she antagonized her enemy hiding her own pain.
"…" It was Caimac's turn for a loss of words. He backhanded the Elf, literally wiping the smirk from her face. "I'm getting sick of this."
Nerdanel's mind reeled with pain as she watched the human walk out of her line of vision. She closed her eyes as she licked her split lip, letting the irony tang fill her mouth. She tried to think of someway to keep the secret because this time the pain was becoming too much and all she could think of was Legolas. How much more could she take before she spilled the secret she kept for so long? Caimac returned into her line of vision with something in his hands. Her eyes grew wide as she saw the flare of red hot metal glowing in the dim light. As she looked from side to side she saw men advancing getting closer. But she could do nothing but try to resist. Their cold gloved hands grabbed her arms and held her to the table, while others pushed the shift up to reveal her abdomen and nothing else.
"You see this is something new Nerdanel. Whippings didn't work, stabbings, wounds getting larger in small increments, adding salt to them…they didn't work did they? Well I wonder if you can stand up to the fire that burns in your own eyes without breaking. Let's put it to the test." Caimac sneered as he twirled the burning metal through the air sizzling and crackling filling the air.
Nerdanel tried to move away from them, their hands foreign against her skin. She wanted away-wanted it to be a dream. She knew just how much it hurt to be slightly burned was and fully knew that this was going to hurt a lot more. She twisted her body, trying get away from the men but their grips held fast as she could do nothing but watch as Caimac moved toward her with the burning rod. Then she felt the searing metal touch her skin.
The smell of burning flesh filled the room as a hiss of pain escaped the Elf's lips. Caimac lifted the rod and placed it back on her stomach, letting it sit longer cauterizing flesh and blood. He watched as Nerdanel's restraint fell. He kept lifting and placing the metal on all areas of exposed skin until the metal's once brilliant glow faded.
"Hm. Going to speak yet precious? We could really stop this madness and cut to the chase." Caimac offered as he touched the cooling metal.
Nerdanel's body convulsed in pain against the restraints of the men and the manacles as she glared at the human. Her dignity was still in play and she wasn't going to say a thing about her costly secret. In a raspy pain filled voice she managed to speak one word.
"Never."
"Then we will continue this till you speak or otherwise." Caimac threw the metal rod on the ground with a clang as he went and got two more glowing rods. "You will regret this."
The human placed both gleaming rods on the Elf's stomach at the same time. The pain was unbearable as a soft cry passed her lips. Bloody welts flamed up instantly and blood boiled on contact with the metal. She closed her eyes fiercely as a tear of pain fell down her face. Her body moved on its own accord, arching against the men which caused the burning rods to sink into her skin deeper than before. She couldn't think-as the pain increased to insane degrees. Never had Caimac gone this far before. Her mind reeled with warning signs to flee, signs telling her she was reaching her limit, telling her to give in, and at the same time telling her to fight back. An agonized cry tore past her lips as she pulled away from the metal table on her own accord. The men held on to her arms tightly but as she resisted there was a sickening pop as she shoulder dislocated. Another cry of pure agony passed her lips as she pressed her body hard against the table in an attempt to evade the pain. Ragged breaths wracked her frail body as she tried not to pass out, the darkness was threatening to take her under. Nerdanel opened her eyes and allowed their pain-filled gaze look at Caimac as they slowly closed clenched in misery.
"Tell us Nerdanel…tell us who your lord is…we can make all this pain all go away. Just give us a name." Caimac whispered close to her ear so that only she could hear his voice like that of a friend.
Nerdanel turned her head to him and mouthed the word no, unable to speak as a wave of pain passed over her. Caimac made the men get away from her as he grabbed a bucket from beside the table. With a snarl on his face, the human dumped the contents on the Elf's body. The stinging of the salt water caused her to scream and pull against the restraints. The chain reaction of movements pulled against her dislocated shoulder and sent a combination of both pains washing over her consciousness. Nerdanel couldn't think of anything except escape and let the unconscious oblivion claim her. She fell still against the restraints as a calm neutral expression passed over her face.
"Um Captain…I think we killed her." One of the guards looked at the motionless Elf.
"She's not dead, you idiot!" Caimac muttered as he placed two fingers against her neck, there was a pulse, a weak erratic pulse but one nonetheless. "Elves like animals will sacrifice anything to get away from pain. She sacrificed her consciousness. Pathetic." Caimac pushed Nerdanel's head to the side letting her hair fall over her face. "We'll get an answer out of her this time. Take her and put her back in her bonds…back in the cell."
"But sir-should we clean her wounds?" the guard asked again.
Caimac was getting angry at the man's questions. "No we are going to let Mother Nature take care of things for us."
"What do you mean by that sir?"
"You'll soon see. You'll soon see." Caimac grinned as he walked out of the torture room and into the darkness.
Thanks to those who read my first chapter and all that. Sorry for the strange and really bad cliffie. But I figure it will keep you readers wanting to read so what the heck. I'll be posting again soon so keep in touch and review- I love hearing about your thoughts and suggestions.
MD