Chapter 2
They made camp and started a small fire. Binding the woman's' hands and tying the end around a trunk, they left her to awaken by the tree. Thalion and Falma prepared the food, as the others set up a more organized camp. Eating, they sang songs of praise and remembrance to the five, blessing them and praying they were at peace and with the Valar.
During the meal, they heard a moan escape their prisoner's lips. She called out in a strange language that they knew not, but her request would be fulfilled. The night sounds drew her attention, as if she did not expect them. She looked at the forest behind her, and the crackle of the fire drew her attention to the party. She immediately tensed and started pleading in her tongue. Haldir beckoned her over, and she understood this, and knew she could not face them all if she ran. She would have to comply with them if she valued her life.
She rose and took a small step, and then fell to the floor. She cried in pain and grasped for her ankle. Thalion and Aldalda rushed to her side. Aldalda, being stronger, helped her sit up, but kept his hands upon her shoulders. Thalion, being a healer, examined the ankle.
'It's twisted. Aldalda, hold her down.'
Aldalda tightened his grip, knowing what was to come. Thalion had immense strength, even though she was female. Her slender build fooled many travelers, and gave her an advantage in battle. She twisted the ankle to right to fix the structure, and the woman cried in pain. Aldalda had to retighten his grip as she slipped from his fingers. She screamed in pain, slowly getting softer as the pain subsided. Bandages and sticks were brought to keep the foot straight until it healed.
Aldalda untied the rope about the tree and brought her to the small fire they had (which was hidden by the trees and was ready to be extinguished if any eerie noised came). Haldir tried to converse with her, but he could not guess which language she spoke.
'It must be a language long thought dead, for she rode upon a Drake. She must be of their ancient clan. Lord Elrond has libraries. Perhaps he has a book of her language somewhere.'
The woman sat silent now, and listened intently, accepting very little of what they offered her. She knew the Common Tongue, but she feared for what they might do to learn of her people. No one was supposed to live after seeing a Drake. If they knew her skills in language as well and fighting, they might decide to torture her for information before the end. Uray looked the youngest and most foolish, but he seemed brave, and had volunteered to guard her most of the time. No one said anything else about guarding her, but they all feared that her life would draw more Drakes. And they were right.
A smaller Drake let out a call, and the fire went out. The Elves hid well in the trees, and a blond Elf and Uray led her to a tall thick tree. The Drake landed, and a figure called out in her language. Uray's hand covered her mouth as she tried to respond to her sister, and the blond Elf stepped forward.
'Do you speak the Common Tongue, Drake Rider?'
'Yes, now I ask of you, what have you done with my two Riders? And who be ye?'
'I am Legolas Greanleaf. One lay dead, and the other in our custody. And what is your name?'
' I am Ahmmette. Show me the Rider. I command it by the powers invested in me by my father.'
'You have no need to see her, for I know very well which one she is.' This caused the woman's eyebrow to raise. 'She is the one with the blue face paint. The one with red broke her neck.' A sigh escaped Ahmmette's mouth, and every Elf heard it.
'What do you want for my sister's life?'
'She killed five of our warriors, each young and new at battle. And you only lost two lives. A Drake and a Rider. Bring me three heads of your fellow Riders and she shall be returned to your custody, or else her head will settle the score.'
'You cannot ask that of me to slaughter my own family!'
'Then why can you slaughter my kin?'
She had no answer, but she made a clicking noise to her Drake, who spread his vast wings.
'Wait! You speak the Common Tongue. Why does your sister not? And what is her name?'
'She never learned,' came back through the darkness after a short time. 'Her name is Musica. Treat her well, or those three heads will be avenged with all of your parties. I shall return in a fortnight.'
With that, the Drake leapt to the air and flew off. The strangely shaped wings carried him and his Rider away into the night, blocking out the stars. Legolas turned back to Musica, and sighed of frustration. Her ability for speech would be a help now, and she knew it. Ahmmette knew her reasons, and had not spoiled the guise. This was going to be a long captivity, and all for love. Her father would be torn in two at this decision. Sacrifice his people or his daughter. Now she had to think of how to survive with these people without communication.
She was jolted from her thoughts as Uray's hands went to her waist. It was a strange feeling, for she didn't know why he did it. He led her back to the others, but didn't remove his hands. They discussed taking paired watches incase the Drake decided to return for a chance at their hostage. She simply sat, listening to their talk and trying to think of how to make her language sound like theirs so as to make communication somewhat possible. Legolas and the apparent Dwarf, Gimli she learned his name as, took up a watch deep into the night. She sat cross-legged and stared into the night sky. She accepted a small morsel of food and muttered a 'thank you' before she knew what she had done. Legolas had wheeled back around and was suddenly face to face with her.
'What did you just say?' he asked, barely above a whisper.
'Tehang ti yu' she said, trying to make it sound like her language. She knew she had failed, because they had heard her speak before in her native tongue. His eyes narrowed suspiciously, and he spoke only after a moment of thought.
'Fine, but if you are lying, we will find out. I shall discuss this with the others. Now, if you do understand me, I'll make you an offer. If you tell me right now that you know the Common Tongue, I won't tell anyone.'
She knew she had lost, and he could tell. Her face said it all. With a sigh, she nodded her approval of his offer. His face became one of triumph, and then turned to curiosity. He led her a little away from the campsite, and sat her down. Sitting down cross-legged across from her, he began to make conversation.
'So why did you keep silent and plead mute?'
'I didn't want you to press me for information of my people. I would rather take anything you would throw at me, even death, before I betrayed my lord.' This surprised him, for he was silent for a time.
'I won't ask you about your people until you are ready, but there are other matters I need answers to. Why not tell me of you? Or about the Drakes?'
'My name is Musica Sheha-Mayim. I am one hundred sixty-two. For my race, I am just now a young woman. What about you?'
'I am Legolas Greenleaf. You might not know much of other races, but I am of Elven kin. I am a little over two-thousand years now.'
She was a little more than shocked at how he looked so youthful.
'B-but how can that be! You look to be my age!'
'I assumed correct that you are not familiar with other races. Elves are immortal.'
That shut her up. She simply stared at him, trying to find anything about him that showed his age at all. His eyes were the only window to the vast wisdom. Deep blue of the ocean they were. She found herself thinking him handsome, which none could deny. He sat tall and proud, almost noble. She was drawn from her thoughts when he rose and offered a hand. They had just begun their discussion.
'Why do you wish to go back to the others? You won't tell, will you? You promised!'
'No, I will not speak of your knowledge, but I must warn them to be wary, otherwise you might slip. My watch is over for this eve. Take rest, for we start early tomorrow.'
She walked back to the camp and curled up into a ball, wrapping her leathery cloak about her. At least now she had someone to talk to incase she needed company. He was friendly, so she could believe his promise. Musica of the Drakes drifted into uneasy slumber, wondering if her mistake might prove horrific or benefitial.
They made camp and started a small fire. Binding the woman's' hands and tying the end around a trunk, they left her to awaken by the tree. Thalion and Falma prepared the food, as the others set up a more organized camp. Eating, they sang songs of praise and remembrance to the five, blessing them and praying they were at peace and with the Valar.
During the meal, they heard a moan escape their prisoner's lips. She called out in a strange language that they knew not, but her request would be fulfilled. The night sounds drew her attention, as if she did not expect them. She looked at the forest behind her, and the crackle of the fire drew her attention to the party. She immediately tensed and started pleading in her tongue. Haldir beckoned her over, and she understood this, and knew she could not face them all if she ran. She would have to comply with them if she valued her life.
She rose and took a small step, and then fell to the floor. She cried in pain and grasped for her ankle. Thalion and Aldalda rushed to her side. Aldalda, being stronger, helped her sit up, but kept his hands upon her shoulders. Thalion, being a healer, examined the ankle.
'It's twisted. Aldalda, hold her down.'
Aldalda tightened his grip, knowing what was to come. Thalion had immense strength, even though she was female. Her slender build fooled many travelers, and gave her an advantage in battle. She twisted the ankle to right to fix the structure, and the woman cried in pain. Aldalda had to retighten his grip as she slipped from his fingers. She screamed in pain, slowly getting softer as the pain subsided. Bandages and sticks were brought to keep the foot straight until it healed.
Aldalda untied the rope about the tree and brought her to the small fire they had (which was hidden by the trees and was ready to be extinguished if any eerie noised came). Haldir tried to converse with her, but he could not guess which language she spoke.
'It must be a language long thought dead, for she rode upon a Drake. She must be of their ancient clan. Lord Elrond has libraries. Perhaps he has a book of her language somewhere.'
The woman sat silent now, and listened intently, accepting very little of what they offered her. She knew the Common Tongue, but she feared for what they might do to learn of her people. No one was supposed to live after seeing a Drake. If they knew her skills in language as well and fighting, they might decide to torture her for information before the end. Uray looked the youngest and most foolish, but he seemed brave, and had volunteered to guard her most of the time. No one said anything else about guarding her, but they all feared that her life would draw more Drakes. And they were right.
A smaller Drake let out a call, and the fire went out. The Elves hid well in the trees, and a blond Elf and Uray led her to a tall thick tree. The Drake landed, and a figure called out in her language. Uray's hand covered her mouth as she tried to respond to her sister, and the blond Elf stepped forward.
'Do you speak the Common Tongue, Drake Rider?'
'Yes, now I ask of you, what have you done with my two Riders? And who be ye?'
'I am Legolas Greanleaf. One lay dead, and the other in our custody. And what is your name?'
' I am Ahmmette. Show me the Rider. I command it by the powers invested in me by my father.'
'You have no need to see her, for I know very well which one she is.' This caused the woman's eyebrow to raise. 'She is the one with the blue face paint. The one with red broke her neck.' A sigh escaped Ahmmette's mouth, and every Elf heard it.
'What do you want for my sister's life?'
'She killed five of our warriors, each young and new at battle. And you only lost two lives. A Drake and a Rider. Bring me three heads of your fellow Riders and she shall be returned to your custody, or else her head will settle the score.'
'You cannot ask that of me to slaughter my own family!'
'Then why can you slaughter my kin?'
She had no answer, but she made a clicking noise to her Drake, who spread his vast wings.
'Wait! You speak the Common Tongue. Why does your sister not? And what is her name?'
'She never learned,' came back through the darkness after a short time. 'Her name is Musica. Treat her well, or those three heads will be avenged with all of your parties. I shall return in a fortnight.'
With that, the Drake leapt to the air and flew off. The strangely shaped wings carried him and his Rider away into the night, blocking out the stars. Legolas turned back to Musica, and sighed of frustration. Her ability for speech would be a help now, and she knew it. Ahmmette knew her reasons, and had not spoiled the guise. This was going to be a long captivity, and all for love. Her father would be torn in two at this decision. Sacrifice his people or his daughter. Now she had to think of how to survive with these people without communication.
She was jolted from her thoughts as Uray's hands went to her waist. It was a strange feeling, for she didn't know why he did it. He led her back to the others, but didn't remove his hands. They discussed taking paired watches incase the Drake decided to return for a chance at their hostage. She simply sat, listening to their talk and trying to think of how to make her language sound like theirs so as to make communication somewhat possible. Legolas and the apparent Dwarf, Gimli she learned his name as, took up a watch deep into the night. She sat cross-legged and stared into the night sky. She accepted a small morsel of food and muttered a 'thank you' before she knew what she had done. Legolas had wheeled back around and was suddenly face to face with her.
'What did you just say?' he asked, barely above a whisper.
'Tehang ti yu' she said, trying to make it sound like her language. She knew she had failed, because they had heard her speak before in her native tongue. His eyes narrowed suspiciously, and he spoke only after a moment of thought.
'Fine, but if you are lying, we will find out. I shall discuss this with the others. Now, if you do understand me, I'll make you an offer. If you tell me right now that you know the Common Tongue, I won't tell anyone.'
She knew she had lost, and he could tell. Her face said it all. With a sigh, she nodded her approval of his offer. His face became one of triumph, and then turned to curiosity. He led her a little away from the campsite, and sat her down. Sitting down cross-legged across from her, he began to make conversation.
'So why did you keep silent and plead mute?'
'I didn't want you to press me for information of my people. I would rather take anything you would throw at me, even death, before I betrayed my lord.' This surprised him, for he was silent for a time.
'I won't ask you about your people until you are ready, but there are other matters I need answers to. Why not tell me of you? Or about the Drakes?'
'My name is Musica Sheha-Mayim. I am one hundred sixty-two. For my race, I am just now a young woman. What about you?'
'I am Legolas Greenleaf. You might not know much of other races, but I am of Elven kin. I am a little over two-thousand years now.'
She was a little more than shocked at how he looked so youthful.
'B-but how can that be! You look to be my age!'
'I assumed correct that you are not familiar with other races. Elves are immortal.'
That shut her up. She simply stared at him, trying to find anything about him that showed his age at all. His eyes were the only window to the vast wisdom. Deep blue of the ocean they were. She found herself thinking him handsome, which none could deny. He sat tall and proud, almost noble. She was drawn from her thoughts when he rose and offered a hand. They had just begun their discussion.
'Why do you wish to go back to the others? You won't tell, will you? You promised!'
'No, I will not speak of your knowledge, but I must warn them to be wary, otherwise you might slip. My watch is over for this eve. Take rest, for we start early tomorrow.'
She walked back to the camp and curled up into a ball, wrapping her leathery cloak about her. At least now she had someone to talk to incase she needed company. He was friendly, so she could believe his promise. Musica of the Drakes drifted into uneasy slumber, wondering if her mistake might prove horrific or benefitial.