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Disclaimer: I do not own the character or places associated with the Lord of the Rings or Middle Earth. They are the creations of J. R. R. Tolkien and the property of Tolkien Enterprises.
“I
learned that it is the weak who are cruel,
and that gentleness is to be expected only from the strong.”
-Leo
Rosten
***********
“Good,”
the blonde man said pleasantly, “I knew we could come to an understanding.”
Aragorn
meet Legolas’ eyes and he saw a light in them that was more intense than the
normal glow they held at night. The ranger knew that although the elf was cool
on the outside he was furious on the inside. The human also knew that the elf
was probably blaming himself for this right now, even though it was no more
Legolas’ fault than his.
“So now what are your plans?” Aragorn asked through clenched teeth.
“Well,”
Vocyn answered as he nimbly kicked the ranger’s feet out from under him
causing Aragorn to fall unceremoniously to his knees whilst keeping the dagger
at his throat, “we have a little trip to take.”
“Back
to the camp I presume,” the ranger said anger evident in his voice.
His
only answer was a chuckle from the procurer.
“Master
elf,” Vocyn called, “I’d appreciate it if you would slowly come
closer. Nothing fast or flashy now,” he finished moving the dagger slightly at
the other human’s throat.
Legolas
practically had to bite his tongue to keep his outward appearance cool. The
blonde elf walked slowly towards the pair. He had walked up close to the two,
but the blonde human told him to stop still a short distance away. He was good,
Legolas conceded. He was close enough for the human to see easily, but not close
enough to where he could make a move for the thief without giving the human time
to react. So he was not only good, but cautious as well.
“If
we are to move,” Aragorn began again, “why then am I on the ground?”
“Well
I said we, but I am afraid what I really meant was you.”
Aragorn
gave the blonde man a slightly confused look. Legolas, however, knew exactly
what the thief, more of assassin, meant.
“But
he is unarmed you cutthroat,” Legolas said fiercely.
“True,
but I’m not picky.”
Aragorn,
on the ground, finally caught on.
“Go
ahead, you do realize, though, that after you kill me you will not have time to
stop my friend? He will take you down swiftly.”
“You
think so hey?” Vocyn asked with an intrigued smile, “It would be an
interesting test of speed wouldn’t it?”
“And
not just for me,” he continued, “it would be interesting to see who the elf
went for. On the one hand, he could test his speed by trying to save you. Most
likely by pushing you out of the way if he could, ultimately sacrificing himself
as I am sure he realizes I would simply stab him instead and with this
dagger it matters not where the victim is injured. On the other hand, would he
choose his own life or think he is not fast enough and simply kill me after I
slit your throat? And what of me? Do I act as I have told you and try and slit
your throat or do I act unexpectedly and simply throw the dagger at the elf?”
The procurer/ assassin looked positively fascinated by the thought of all the outcomes and how everyone would react.
“This
is not a game,” Aragorn said fiercely.
“My,
my,” he smiled enthralled, “we do have ourselves a situation though don’t
we? And I beg to differ whether it’s a game or not.”
For
Aragorn there was no wonderment about it. He knew exactly which option the elf
would choose and he wouldn’t let his friend make such a sacrifice. The ranger
met Legolas’ eyes and his feelings must have shown for the elf gave him a look
of warning against moving first.
Aragorn
could feel the tension in the air as all three prepared to make the first
strike.
The
question was… who would react first?
***********
Elrohir
pushed his feet as fast as they would carry him. He had to get back in time to
warn Estel and Legolas, plus everyone in Rivendell was still in danger. There
was no way he was going to let whoever it was have another chance at his father.
He would simply have to deal with finding out whom the traitor was later.
For now he just had to get there!
Elrohir
had made good time in the short span he had been running and was pushing his
body hard. The two things he had not taken into account and the one he was
waiting for seemed to crash together at the same time.
The
dark-haired elf caught sounds of movement and looked back to see his horse
spring from out of nowhere. Elrohir felt like beating his head against a tree
for in his haste he had completely forgotten that his horse had followed him to
camp.
The
elf ran to meet the horse, but before he could reach her he felt the tell tale
tingle go through his body. He mad a mad dash for the horse and just barely
reached its side before the winds howled through the trees. The wind knocked
into the elf with enough force to rip him off his feet and he grabbed a hold of
the much heavier animal for balance at the same time he heard the twang of a
bowstring.
The
thrust of the wind flung him to the side and the arrow, albeit by accident,
barely missed Elrohir’s head. It slammed painfully into the horse’s neck and
the animal reared in pain and fright. Elrohir managed to keep his hold on the
horse, but his left shoulder was painfully wretched upward and he had to hold
back a surprised cry of pain. He knew Laurelin would strike again quickly and he
had to react now. The dark-haired
elf, giving thanks to the Valar that his weapons were still attached to the
horse, drew his sword and dropped straight down and hopefully momentarily out of
the she elf’s vision. He tucked the sword close to his body and rolled
furiously for the protection of dense brush, a tree, anything.
Laurelin
cursed under her breath as she watched her arrow take the horse in the neck. It
was a fine animal and did not deserve such cruel treatment, but there was
nothing to be done about it now. Right now she had to hold onto the nearest tree
in order to not get taken off her feet as had happened to Elrohir. She saw him
drop and disappear from her sight. She knew he couldn’t get to far from the
horse in the current situation.
The
wind had died down, but it did not cease this time. Laurelin walked openly, she
had the bow after all, out to where the dark-haired elf had been and walked over
to the horse, her long silver gold hair dancing playfully around her shoulders
in the wind.
The
arrow had taken the horse in the muscled part of the neck. She breathed a sigh
of relief, it could have been worse. She did not want to injure it farther, but
neither could she let Elrohir get on the animal.
“Send
the horse away or I will kill it,” she called loudly to the darkness.
Elrohir
silently materialized to the maid’s right and she caught full sight of the elf
finally. He stood there tall and terrible, eyes glinting brightly in the
starlight, with dark hair whipping around his face. She was briefly reminded of
the one time she had seen Elrond so furious and had to fight the urge to back
away from the fair and horrible image. He called out calmly to the horse telling
it to go back to Rivendell and seek healing. The horse nickered in protest, but
did as was told. Elrohir turned his attention back to the golden maid that still
stood where the horse had been. Her hair shone with the moon and the sunlight at
the same time and her pale skin had the faintest trace of silver in the
starlight. She looked into his eyes with those bright green orbs of hers. To
Elrohir, she was still beautiful and it saddened him at the thought of what he
must do.
“I
do not know whether to curse you for shooting my horse or thank you for letting
her go,” Elrohir said.
“How
about neither then, for I am not here for the horse Elrohir.”
Elrohir
tensed and gripped the hilt of his sword with his right hand even tighter. His
left hand was numb and he did not know how much strength the hand possessed. He
was did not think he had dislocated his shoulder, but the muscles had been
violently pulled. Elrohir sighed. Laurelin’s advantages kept growing by the
minute.
“I
don’t suppose you have had a change of heart?” he asked trying to keep the
weariness out of his voice.
She
smiled sadly at the other elf.
“And
I don’t suppose you will go back quietly?” she asked woefully.
Elrohir
answered her with the same sad smile.
“I
told you our doom was already set,” he said.
Laurelin
took a calming breath. She appeared calm on the outside, but inside she was
anything but calm. No one else was supposed to get hurt, Len had promised her
that.
She
had really not wanted things to come down to this; however, she stood resolute
that neither twin would ruin their plans.
“Let
it begin then,” Elrohir said quietly.
In
response the she elf nodded and eyes hardened with determination she charged the
dark-haired male.
****************
Glorfindel
stood in the balcony doorway with his golden hair blowing in the wind.
“The
winds do not appear to want to die down this time Mithrandir,” he said with
the first bit of worry finally creeping into his voice.
Most
others except for Elrond would have missed the slight concern in the elf’s
voice, but Gandalf did not. He was desperately trying to hold onto his faith in
the young ones and the fact that an elf as stoic as Glorfindel was becoming
worried severely tested his patience. The wizard wanted to run out the door
right now and find them, but he had to keep strong.
“At
least Rivendell is not beset by strong winds constantly, there is yet restraint
being used.
“You
are right my friend,” Glorfindel conceded, “I apologize for my lack
faith.”
“This
situation is hard on us all and who said that waiting was the easier job than
charging head long into danger?”
Despite
the situation the elf and wizard shared a small smile.
*************
Something
cut through the comforting darkness of Elladan’s mind. It brought his mind
careening back to consciousness before it would have awoken on its own. It was a
familiar feeling. One that was wrong and not supposed to happen.
Elladan
groaned before he could stifle it, but right now did not really care as hot pain
flared through his head. He barely heard someone talking, whether to him or not
he couldn’t tell and then it felt like he was being moved. The elf struggled
to understand the sounds around him as he tried to pry his eyes open.
Glullyn
was left in the camp with only three others. The missing elf and ranger seemed
more of a threat than the tied up unconscious elf, so the rest went out
searching for the escaped prisoners. Glullyn noticed the elf, was it; twitch and
the fair face seemed to get tense. He wondered if the elf was in pain, not like
he knew how to help him or anything, though. He walked over and knelt down
beside the dark-haired being. He still marveled at how fast he had seen the elf
react when he had grabbed Emlin and how quickly the two elves had attacked when
the blonde one and human had escaped. Had Glullyn not seen it himself he would
not have believed such speed possible in a living being. As soon as he knelt
down a call from one of his companions made his head come up.
“I’d
be careful boss.”
“Yea,”
another one laughed, “that ones tricked us once already tonight. I wouldn’t
want a bloody nose like the thief.”
Glullyn
snorted at them and turned back to look at the ground. Something in the elf’s
face made him believe this was no trick. Something was disturbing the elf. He
wondered what it was that distressed the fey being.
The
mercenary got his answer a breath later as the wind whipped into him knocking
him foreword. He caught himself with one arm before he fell on the elf below him
and landed right beside the dark-haired form. Shouts rang out from the few men
left in camp as they were jostled around unexpectedly.
Elladan
forced his eyes open halfway to see the foliage above him being blown around and
he knew immediately what had forced him from his unconsciousness.
Glullyn
hit the ground and grunted. What was that? He glanced over to see the elf’s
eyes open and he gasped in surprise.
“Aiye
adar,” Elladan said quietly.
Elladan
looked over with glassy eyes at the human beside him and the deep sadness in
them almost broke Glullyn’s heart.
“You
really do not know what you are doing do you fíreb?” Elladan asked almost
rhetorically.
“What
do you mean?” the man asked pushing himself into a sitting position once the
wind settled somewhat, “I get paid to do things and that is what I do. Just
like I am getting paid to work for the elf lass, so I’m just doing my job.”
Elladan
sighed wearily and closed his eyes. Getting hit on the head three times in one
night definitely did not help his mood or his patience and his head hurt so bad
it made him sick just to think about it. He could see the good in this one so
easily, so why couldn’t the infuriating mortal see it as well?
Glullyn
thought the elf had passed back out for a moment before he finally opened his
eyes back up. Those unnaturally bright eyes held a mixture of sadness, wisdom,
and disappointment. The human remembered what he had come over here for in the
first place and looked thoughtful for a moment. He wasn’t as dense as his
partner thought he was. He looked down at the elf lying there. Glullyn wasn’t
sure if he would speak to him, being a human and all, but he decided to try.
“You
felt it didn’t you?” he asked the elf.
“Mani?”
Elladan asked, then through the pounding in his head realized he wasn’t
dealing with the normal humans he was used to and asked again, “what?”
“Before
the wind kicked up, you felt it didn’t you?”
“Yes,
why do you ask?”
“Well,”
Glullyn started, “it doesn’t seem normal. I mean this didn’t happen when
we first came here, so I guess what I’m asking is what is it?”
Glullyn
was taken off guard by the sudden intense anger that filled those blue eyes.
“That
is because you are responsible for it human,” Elladan hissed out.
“You
mean the elf lord?” Glullyn asked clueless.
“Aye,”
Elladan said coldly, “an elf lord that happens to be my father.”
Glullyn
could not hold the intense gaze and looked down at the ground.
“As
I said before, I just do what I get paid to do. Its nothing personal.”
“Nothing
personal?” Elladan asked through clenched teeth, “You are endangering
everyone in this valley, including yourself, and you call it nothing
personal.”
“I
didn’t know something like this was going to happen and what do you mean
including myself?” the human asked.
“Well
now you do and think about it. What protects this valley is more valuable than
you can imagine. If you let his continue the whole valley could be destroyed and
when that happens it will attract the attention of foes you could not even
fathom. You are not just endangering this place, but all of Arda. Are you so
coldhearted that you do not care about the rest of your people or are you just
too dense to realize it?”
Elladan
would have like to try and convince the human a bit more subtly. He knew he let
his anger and frustration get the better of him, but what was said was said. He
watched carefully as several emotions skirted across the humans face from
surprise, to anger, then shame, and finally a look of uncertainty. Maybe the
harsh words were needed after all.
“You
have no idea what it is like Master Elf,” the human began guardedly and quiet
so the others wouldn’t hear, “you are the son of a lord and look pretty
young. You don’t know what it is like to grow up barely getting by and
scrounging for enough food. I’ve held a blade since I was hold enough and
lived by it ever since. Being a blade for hire is the only way a man like me
with no trade skills can make a living in this world.”
“You
are right, I do not know what your life has been like, but I can relate to you.
I am older than I look human. I have spent most of three thousand years
protecting this valley and its inhabitants with a sword.”
Elladan
paused to let his words sink in as the man’s eyes widened in wonder and
surprise.
“You
cannot begin to understand all of the pain and sadness that can be witnessed
over such a period of time. I can tell you do not like inflicting such pain. It
is never too late to start over. My father is very understanding and even though
he has been the target of your misdeeds I am sure if you help stop it now he
will not hold it against you.”
“No,”
the human said shaking his head, “no one can be that forgiving. Where it me I
would not even forgive my grievances now and I have no wish to spent my days in
an elven dungeon or be beheaded.”
“My
father has never punished someone by execution,” Elladan said passionately.
“That
is a human punishment and not an elven one. And just so you know, Rivendell does
not have dungeons. Please, I am asking you for the lives of the people whom this
will affect. Would you wish to sentence other children to a childhood full of
pain?”
Glullyn
really wanted to believe the elf. The chance for a new start was tempting. To
never have to fight for money again would be a dream. He was afraid that was all
it was though a dream. No one could possibly be that forgiving, could they? He
took a good look into the elf’s eyes and whether it was simply masked he did
not see hatred in the blue depths. The fact amazed him since he had helped set
up the elf’s father. If the son could forgive him, could the father forgive
him as well?
“Hey
boss,” the voice brought his head up.
“Whatever
you’re talking about, I wouldn’t listen to that elf. They’re deceitful
creatures not to be trusted.”
As
Glullyn looked back into the eyes of the elf he was pretty sure the deceitful
ones were sitting across from him and not on the ground in front of him.
Elladan
saw the internal struggle the human was going through.
“I
can see you did not know all this would happen and I give you my word that you
will not be imprisoned Just remember the right thing to do is not always the
easiest, but the choice lies with you.”
The
mercenary’s heart beat furiously in his chest. For once in his life he had the
chance to do the write thing and it scared the breath out of him. Could he
possibly helo turn this horrid situation around?
Glullyn
stood suddenly and walked over to where the elf’s things had been brought back
and laid. He picked up the sword and held it up to inspect. The weapon was
beautiful and he looked at it in appreciation. The smooth blade shone in the
starlight. He swung it a few times marveling at its balance. It was a weapon
made with a skill he knew was lost to Middle Earth. The men watched with mild
interest as their leader looked at the elven weapon.
“You
going to take it Glullyn?” one asked with a sneer to the elf.
Glullyn
walked silently back over to where Elladan lay bound and pointed the tip of the
sword down at the elf, his face an unreadable mask.
“I
don’t even know your name,” the human stated.
Elladan
looked intently into the human’s eyes, but for once could not read them.
“It
is Elladan,” he answered stoically back.
Glullyn
nodded in response and knelt down never taking the point away.
“This
is a beautiful weapon and I am sure it has served you well protecting this
place,, as I hope it will for a long time yet.”
Without
another word the human cut Elladan’s bindings with the sharp elven steel,
dropped the sword by the elf, and stood. Glullyn turned to his stunned men and
drew his own sword.
“Well,
lets get this over with boys. Who wants to play first?”
***********
Aragorn,
Legolas, and Vocyn all wanting to act first sprang at the same time, Legolas
going for the ranger, Aragorn thrusting up at the thief, and Vocyn unexpectedly
backing up from both with an evil grin. Right before he propelled himself
backward the procurer threw the dagger at his target.
Aragorn stood up, right in front of the elf, just in the place Vocyn expected. The Rathrae coated dagger sunk into the ranger’s shoulder and he stumbled back into Legolas’ arms. The wound itself was not a lethal one, but what coated the dagger was. The elf and ranger stared at the dagger for a few heart-pounding moments before either reacted.
They
both looked up to see that Vocyn had taken to the shadows again and Legolas
almost considered following him. That was until he remembered what had just
transpired.
“Estel,
by the Valar, why?” he asked as he helped the ranger sit down.
Aragorn grimaced as he sat down with the help of the strong hands on him. He could feel his breathing speed up and he felt slightly flush, but other than that he felt nothing else peculiar. He knew it would come though and wondered just how a human would take Rathrae.
“Estel can you hear me? Answer me” Legolas demanded.
“I’m alright for now,” he answered.
“You do not look well,” Legolas answered truthfully as he reached for the dagger to pull it out.
“No,” Aragorn said breathily taking hold of his friend’s wrist.
“Why not?” the elf asked.
“You might knick yourself removing the dagger and that would defeat my whole purpose of moving in the way.”
The ranger clenched one hand tightly and reached the free one up to take a hold of the dagger. Legolas place his hands over the ranger’s to steady it and they pulled. Aragorn groaned as the dagger slid out and dropped it on the ground. Legolas tore a strip from his cloak and held it over the wound.
“We must get you back to Rivendell,” Legolas stated.
“What is the point? I condom my father if I do,” the ranger said close to tears.
“Do not speak so,” said Legolas quietly.
“With only one antidote, one of is doomed and we came out here to save my father and that is exactly what I intend to do.”
“Tampa Tanya Estel!” Legolas snapped. //stop that//
Aragorn flinched at the commanding tone of his friend’s voice. A tone the elf had never used on him before.
“There is always another option if you are willing to look for it. I am not giving up on you or Elrond yet, now I will bind this wound as best as may right now and then we are going back to Rivendell, understood?”
Aragorn had to hide a smile at his friend. He saw Legolas’ father’s commanding presence emerge at times like these. Unbidden Laurelin’s words came back to him, ‘Do not give up hope yet, young one, your father yet lives. As long as he draws breath there is always a chance he will beat it on his own.’
She was right, his father had given him the name of hope and he would live up to it. It saddened him, though, to think of the source of those words and all the pain she had caused already.