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It slid in so easily that at first Ah'med did not feel a thing. But then with a twist of his wrist Ak'tun pushed it in deeper and Ah'med shivered, the pain so bad that from his open mouth not a sound came. Blood poured from the edges of the sword like a fountain. Above them Elladan screamed a piercing denial. But Ak'tun had caught Ah'med in a deadly embrace, pulled close to his chest Ah'med trembled while Ak'tun kissed his cooling forehead.
"Rest now m'dallin you have served me well." he whispered at the old man's ear.
Ak'tun could feel the warm pulse of the old man slowing as more and more of his blood coursed down his torso to puddle at his feet.
Through his pain Ah'med could hear Elladan crying out his name.
'Run child, climb, do not let him catch you,' he thought as his knees buckled and his body shook. 'Stupid old man,' he thought, 'You were too slow.'
And then with a soft sigh Ah'med died.
Ak'tun caught him as he slumped and knelt to lay him gently on the ground. There were tears in the desert man's eyes, how could Ah'med betray him so? But then the harsh sobbing from above interrupted his musings. Looking up he could just about see the elf's pale face. Leaving the corpse he stood,
"Come here di'alla, I will not hurt you." he called.
A scream was building in Elladan, a scream of outrage and pain. But as he watched the blood pool around Ah'med's still form a coldness began to fill him, a numbness took hold of his heart. He got to his feet like a broken doll and stood at the edge of the platform of rock. Below him Ak'tun smiled for he thought that the elf obeyed.
"Yes sha'abla come," he said opening his arms. Elladan stared down at him, his face wooden and then without another thought he stepped out into nothing.
A shout of fear froze in Ak'tun's throat as the elf plummeted to the cave floor, in fact a shriek escaped the desert king as the elf hit the unyielding stone hard. But even as Ak'tun rushed forward in concern the elf rolled to his feet.
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Aragorn saw the big bear-thing loom out of the darkening sky, he watched in horrid fascination as the monster closed in on him. To scream would be pointless for the wind would snatch his voice away before he had even finished articulating it. A massive paw with deadly claws descended towards him. Even as he flinched he felt himself being pushed out of harm's way. He stumbled, recovered and turned to watch Veren who had drawn his sword in an attempt to do battle with the monster. But the bear- thing was terrible in its anger and its paw hit Veren hard. The force spun him around and he crashed full face into the hard stone. As he fell Aragorn screamed, rushing to aid him even as the bear-thing turned its attention to him.
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Ak'tun drew up abruptly in astonishment, the elf was unharmed, a fall from such a distance would have killed a lesser creature. Yet he reigned in his wonder for there was a look of such hatred and defiance on the elf's face that it made him pause.
"You wish to kill me sha'abla." he questioned softly, he took a step to one side. "You wish to see my blood on your hands." he stepped carefully to the side again.
Elladan said nothing, but cold anger burned in him. He turned with Ak'tun keeping the desert man in front him at all times.
"So be it," said Ak'tun quietly.
There was a flash of silver as the desert man blurred into action.
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"No," cried Aragorn. He threw himself over Veren's still form and tucked his head down. But the wind played havoc with them. It tugged at him even as he struggled to stay down. It pulled at his cloak, it blinded him with heavy grit. He could not see the bear-thing any more. He could see nothing. But she could see him. He cried out as the heavy weight of the bear-thing's paws hit his unprotected back.
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With a cry of pain Elladan rolled away from Ak'tun thrust. The deadly knife was long, as thin as a whip and as sharp as any elven sword. And now it was stained with his blood. Ak'tun was breathing heavily but this was from excitement not tiredness, but Elladan was already stumbling, the strength that had come from his anger waning in the face of a one-sided battle.
"Cease this nonsense now and I will show you mercy." Ak'tun crooned, "Continue and I will make you beg for death!"
Elladan stared at him for a moment. His face was pale and stained with blood. His body sweated and stank. His limbs trembled and his heart raced, but he defiantly tossed his head and said. "I have seen your mercy desert man, I want none of it."
Ak'tun laughed as a shiver of pleasure ran through him, he longed to run his fingers through the heavy weight of the elf's long hair even now. How stubbornly he stood there, his beautiful face full of pain, his tasty body trembling with effort.
"Well said sha'abla. You are indeed worthy of my affections." Ak'tun responded.
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The powerful blow ripped the cloak from Aragorn's shoulders and dragged him away from Veren's still form. It was fortunate for him that he wore such a cloak for the bear-thing's claws briefly became entangled in its folds. Aragorn's head went up as he stared at the beast. His back was against the rocks now, his sword broken in its scabbard. His heart pounded in fear deafening him as the thing rose on its hind legs. So close were the others yet so far, for they could not see or hear the battle that raged right next to them. The howl of the wind would make a mockery of any cries for help. The thing rose on its hind legs and as it did Aragorn pushed himself to his feet. He would not die a craven fool.
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Ak'tun's plan was dreadfully simple. He did not intend to kill the elf or inflict any real harm, but to tire him until he could be subdued easily. Therefore he did not allow the elf to close with him. Instead he forced the creature to defend himself from delicate flicks of his knife. Shallow cuts soon decorated the elf's arms and chest. Shallow cuts that annoyed him and drained his energy . Ak'tun paused to admire the elf as he staggered back, avoiding once again the edge of the knife. The ties of the elf's robe had come undone and the garment hung precariously from his hips. Greed was flooding Ak'tun's heart, the desire to possess, to use, to hurt, greed for sensuous pleasure. It was time to end this foolishness. With deliberate cruelty he slashed at the elf's eyes.
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With a cry of defiance Aragorn pulled a knife from his boot and readied himself for battle unto death. But the bear-thing did not attack. It seemed frozen in the sea of blowing sand. As he watched it seemed to Aragorn that a part of the creature undulated and separated itself . He moaned as that part of the creature, slid to the ground growing legs as it landed. Smaller yet more menacing it approached Aragorn slowly. Shaking with fear but determined to fight Aragorn held out his blade threateningly.
"Back you spawn of Morgoth, back."
Surprisingly the thing stopped. Sand blew around them and the wind howled, but the two of them were frozen in a frightening pose. Then, it seemed to Aragorn that the thing removed its head.
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Fire, fire across his face, his eyes, he could not see! An awful scream was ripped from his throat and he stumbled backward, his hands flying to his face, Ak'tun followed him, watching with great amusement as he stumbled about. The elf went down and began to crawl away from him. But Ak'tun caught hold of his hair and kept him from moving. Elladan moaned in pain and quite deliberately Ak'tun kicked him solidly behind the ear. The elf fell heavily to the ground, barely conscious. Ak'tun knelt then and gently moved the heavy hair off his face. Bright red blood ran from the wound that went diagonally from forehead to cheek. The cut was deep but it would heal well, as did all the bruises and wounds he had inflicted on the elf so far. Ak'tun knelt lower and kissed the red blood from the elf's lips. Perfection. Elladan barely felt anything. He may have mumbled as rough, eager hands undid the ties at his waist. He weakly grasped at Ak'tun's wrist as the desert man patiently removed the robe from his lower body, but Ak'tun took the questing hand kissed it reverently and moved it away...