Category: Tolkien-Universe
Rating: M
Couples: -
Warnings: AU, blood, mentions of torture, character death, Loss of bodily autonomy (no Non-con)
Chapter: 24
Copyright: Characters & places © By Tolkien Estate, Plot & OC´s © by me
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Thuringwethil swept inside the building, leading several Secondborn. They were the leaders of a tribe that lived near her Master's borders, and soon hopefully inside the borders.
"Thuringwethil." Mairon was standing on the first floor's landing, Verloren beside him. Both of them were glowing in the gloom.
"My Lord." She swept into a curtsy. "These people requested an audience with you."
"I see. Welcome to my home." He smiled elegantly, turning to one of the staircases down, his golden-haired elf following with a dancer's grace. "Have you rested from your journey?"
"We wished to extend our greetings first." The female in charge of the group assured him, wearing luxurious clothes. At least, by the standards of those not in the Maia's favor.
"Of course." He bowed them into his audience-chamber. "Thuringwethil, inform the kitchen that I require a welcome-meal for... five."
"At once, Master." She disappeared through the side-door briefly, and returned to the eldest of the three having laid out pillows on the ground. "It's on its' way."
It was tradition here, that no business would done until food had been shared by the host so they made small-talk, the visitors complimenting the reliefs on the room-walls while her Master politely asked about their people.
She had summoned the two other elves, to be the bearers of food and drink.
The two black-haired ones arrived with trays of food and drink, and the golden-haired one handed them out.
"My slaves." He answered their unspoken question. "Souvenirs from my homeland." At the rap of his nails, they returned to their appointed places in the room. Verloren behind his throne, Ijzer and Schilder in the corners behind him, their decorations on full display.
Slavery was a common thing here in the South, as tribes clashed over the limited resources of the desert and all free people - male and female - had to be warriors to defend what was theirs. Thuringwethil took her own place, beside the door-opening as they ate the foods offered to them.
"A marvelous place, if these are any indication." The man that had been introduced as the third son of their tribe's chieftain stated, eyes raking over the three elves before refocusing on her Master. It bordered on rudely long, the time he spend looking at the golden-haired form. She suspected he'd been send as the requisite sacrificial lamb, to pay in blood and life if the other side grew insulted. He was doing a fine job at drawing annoyance, certainly.
"A place I am sad to have abandoned, though these lands have their own appeal." The gradient red-haired form was almost as exotic as his decorations. He looked up at Verloren with a grin showing too much tooth. "As are they, are you not, oh King?"
"Yes, Master." The once King of the Noldor answered demurely, bright-blue eyes briefly flicking up before returning to some unseen point on the floor.
"I see the Karmijnen Wolken have not exaggerated your great power." The female smiled gently, her eyes very pointedly not lingering on the elves. "To successfully bear a King into slavery is no small feat."
"I will admit to leverage." In the North, it would have been a statement of weakness, to admit that it was not power that brought low ones' enemies. Here however, she knew, it was an admittance of power, that one would admit to it openly. "I bought him from himself, as I did his nephews. They sold themselves to me." His teeth were sharp.
"The finest way to gain." The Head of the delegation mused. "We too would like to sell ourselves to you."
That was new. Thuringwethil tensed some as the female turned to the slave she had brought, who had been bearing a box it now handed forward.
"You are the first to admit to it so openly." Her Master pointed out, leaning forward a bit. "Why?"
"The hope that it will bring us benefit." The green-clad Secondborn easily admitted with a small smile. "We have heard of the prices you demand for your lordship. Heading of the inevitable overthrow, surely this is to both our wills?" She leaned forward as well, pushing the box towards him.
The Maia barked a laugh. "I like that line of thinking. Yes, I suppose we can come to some agreements." He beckoned Verloren forward to the box. "And this is?"
"The seal of the heir of my lord, and trinkets we have yet to find among other tribes. A token of what we offer."
"We will talk of that after a rest then." He accepted the box, opening it. "Please, stay as my guests. Verloren will attend you in my name for the day." He gestured to the golden form. "Please make full use of his skills."
"And his body?" The third son now even more clearly measured the slender, lovely elf.
"Is my privilege. And he has full authority to safeguard it..." The red hair of their master started to glow faintly. "And the skills to do so. If you do not wish to meet my children I suggest respecting that."
"I will see to it." The female leaned in between the two. "You may hold me accountable."