My thanks to Bettsam0731, teapot of transformation and DaHybridQueen for the reviews and to everyone else who may be reading.
ILVB -Back to back reviews! * Whoops *. Thanks so much.
Can I say I'm glad it gave you the shivers? Oh! Yes, I can, because that was the general idea hehehe.
I tend to think of elves being somewhat cat like in their movements and grace so I suppose having them behave like cats with a mouse is a sort of extension of this. You make me blush though when you call it perfect. There are many writers out there who would no doubt put this story in a much better way then I ever could. But thanks so much for the compliment :)
All will be made clear in the end Mellon nin. (I hope) Lhossons behaviour will be explained as will its cause. I promise. You will just have to be patient a little longer.
*Noms on chocolate and twirls pen between fingers* hmmm, now where were we? Ah, yes...
Sorry this one is short but I really needed this little gap filler in here. The next should hopefully be longer again. As usual, let me know what you think. Please. Feed the muse!
Chapter 43
A sharp, pricking pain brings consciousness flooding back and Flinn opens his eyes once more to find himself pinned by the cold, dark stare of a Raven. The sharp pain is repeated as he feels the tip of a blade pressed firmly against his neck but does not know if it is the same knife as before or another.
"Good." the voice is flat and stern. "You have come back to us once more." He feels the pressure from the knife ease. " Now, where were we?" the dark haired elf tilts his head to once side but never releases his gaze. "Ah, yes, you were just about to answers some questions." the full mouth in front of him curls in a smile that sends chills racing down the mans spine.
"I already tole you" Flinn whines, "I don' know nothin'" he tries to tear his eyes away from the dark gaze holding him but can not. "Speak to 'im, speak to Malin, 'es the one wot will know wot you want."
"But, you haven't heard my questions yet" the elf continues coolly and rocks back on his heels slightly. "How can you know what it is I seek if I have not asked?"
"I" the man swallows nervously, unsure if he is meant to answer this question or not.
"I will start with an easy one" the elf blinks and Flinns gaze is suddenly released. "What is your name?"
"My name?" Flinn stammers stupidly, the question catching him by surprise. " I'm called Flinn." he pauses, then continues quickly with a gesture towards Estel "Didn't he tell ya that?"
"I'm asking the questions!" a flash of fire crosses the dark eyes making the man quail once more before the elfs cold aloof mask returns. "And what is his name?" the elf nods his head briefly in the young mans direction.
"Malin, I tole yer, 'is names Malin." Flinn replies sullenly. There is a pause whilst the Raven appears to be considering this information, then.
"And what of your dead friend. How was he called?" Flinns gaze involuntarily follows the elfs to the dead body in the grass.
"Draeg." he swallows, refusing to allow the bile to rise once more. "'E was Draeg." his brows crease in thought, "But what does that matter to you?"
"It is of little matter," the elfs voice is nonchalant and dismissive, "I purely wished to see if I had heard of your great deeds, but I have not." The man suddenly feels small and insignificant, an insect waiting to be trampled underfoot, as the elf slowly turns his head back to glare at him with eyes full of contempt. "You have travelled long together?"
"A while now" Flinn answers slowly, wondering what the Raven is really after.
"So you know each other well?" the elf retains a nonchalant tone which disquiets the man further but he could not say why.
"Aye," he draws out the word as his mind tries to work out how much to say and he feels the dark eyes can see into his very soul. "Well, me an' Draeg anyways, 'e only joined us fairly recent like." He nods his head towards Estel once more.
"Ah, so you have not worked with him before?" The dark stare seems to gain in intensity, "He knew your friend then I presume?" The elf leans forward slightly in anticipation and the man feels that somehow the answer to this question is important to him.
"No." he hopes he has given the right answer and watches the elf carefully for his reaction. "Neither of us 'ad ever seen ' im before a few days ago." He breathes a sigh of relief when the Raven seems to suddenly relax, his eyes softening as they turn away from his to look over to his twin and the man he knows as Malin.
"Diheno, nin, Estel, Im athranna gar trassant le?" The words are whispered so softly that Flinn does not hear, though he would not have understood them if he had and the Raven begins to leave then turns abruptly as if suddenly remembering Flinns presence, " I will speak with you again, Edain!" the words hold an ominous promise and a shiver runs down the mans spine as he watches the elf walk away.
Not alone.
I float in my dark pool of comfort.
Not alone.
How can this be? My body twists as I reach out my fingers, trying to touch, trying to feel anothers presence yet all they encounter is emptiness. My mind spreads tendrils of thought, searching, probing for another but there is none there.
"Saes" my plea disappears into the void leaving a trail of broken hope, the pieces shimmer with a kaleidoscope of colours, tumbling over and over in the dark, then scatter to drift away and my heart begins to fill with emptiness.
"Hush" a gentle caress of sound swirls the tiny shards and they begin to coalesce once more. I feel hope swell.
"I am here. " A breath whispers across my face. and a sparkling shape begins to form. I feel my heart soar.
My body prickles under the gentle warmth of soft caresses, as if a myriad butterflies kiss my skin and I watch entranced as the pieces mix and blend, colours rippling as sunlight sparkling across water and my namesake is born and flutters in the breeze from three last words.
"My little leaf."
"We will need to make a litter." Estel looks up at his brother, his face tired and drawn, he rises shakily to his feet. "I have done all I can out here." He wipes a hand across his forehead leaving a bloody smear.
They look down at the figure of their friend, once again tightly wrapped but this time in clean linen strips, to keep the medicinal paste the young man has concocted, in place on the raw flesh and bone deep wounds. At one point during the cleansing procedure it had seemed the elf was begining to regain consciousness. His eyelids had fluttered and his head had swung from side to side, almost as if searching for something, but as Estel had whispered gentle, soothing words he had quietened and lapsed into stillness once more.
"It will not be easy to move him without further hurt." Elrohir is frowning as he looks over to where his twin appears to be deep in conversation with their captive. "Having that one with us will make it more difficult also." He nods towards Flinn then watches as his brother turns to walk away from the man and comes towards them. His twin radiates relief but he can not fathom the cause and he realises that Elladan has shut him out. Frowning he waits for him to draw near then raises an eyebrow in unspoken question.
"I am sorry Estel. " Elladan looks past his twin to his human brother. "I should not have spoken thus to you. I was driven by fear and worry."
"I am sorry also 'Dan" the young man smiles and meets the love in the dark eyes opposite with that of his own. "You were right. I did not think things through properly." He nods his head slightly then allows his shoulders to lift in a shrug. "I would do exactly the same again though."
For a moment they stand, faces stony and fixed until a small twitch of Elladans lips breaks the mood and suddenly the three of them are laughing uncontrollably.
"I know you would." Elladan can hardly get the words out, "that is what is so annoying," he splutters.
"You looked so much like Ada." Estel chokes out "When will you ever keep out of trouble ?" he mimics Elronds tone perfectly. "And who taught me how to get into trouble in the first place?"
Tears are now streaming from their eyes as they double over with mirth, helpless to contain themselves, letting out all the tension and worry of the past few days in a torrent, holding onto each other as if they fear that letting go will mean they never find each other again. They let it run its course, laughter and tears turning into sobbing breaths, none quite sure if they are laughing or crying and not caring either way, allowing the cathersis to take them until finally they are left drained but somehow lighter and freer of heart than for a long time.
A/N - Im athranna gar trassant le = I was wrong to have doubted you (my translation) using Ambar-Eldaron dot com