Faded Light
folder
-Multi-Age › Slash - Male/Male
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
20
Views:
10,360
Reviews:
26
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
-Multi-Age › Slash - Male/Male
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
20
Views:
10,360
Reviews:
26
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own the Lord of the Rings (and associated) book series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Uncertain
(For additional notes and disclaimers please top of Chapter 1.)
- Happy reading, and let me know what y’all think.- -
Chapter 16
Uncertain
“...the elf did a good job with your wounds, Highness.
“You’re lucky; had he known less than he seems to, you would not have lived long enough to find me.”
“It makes you wonder where a slave would acquire such learning...” observed the prince, leaning back on the bed, as Aran finished with his examination.
“Even whores are not born so...and it is said Elves are long lived. Surely there must have been a time when he had another life.”
“Well, it is not as if we can ask him...and there are other concerns at the moment. The longer we hide in the city the more likely we’ll be found, and you as well for aiding a son of the king...”
“I have had news of your father, Highness,” said the healer. “He is encamped in the mountains not a week’s journey northeast of here.
“Though for now you will have to remain here until you are well enough to travel.
“There is no point evading capture if you are going to bleed to death in the desert..."
“Could you do me one more favor, Aran,” said the prince, reluctantly accepting the assessment of the young healer who was a friend from his earliest years.
“The elf has eaten almost nothing in the past two days, and he seems to be weakening...
“Could you have a look at him while we are here?”
“As you wish, Highness. And in the meantime you will follow my instructions and be still...”
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“What do you mean he’s dead?”
Leralonde pushed past the guards and rushed into the cell, where Saelbeth was already kneeling beside the Easterling slaver’s body.
“Healer Vaurna says it looks like it was his heart. It was too late by the time he got here.”
“He could not have been more than fifty. That’s not that old even by Mortal standards.”
“Some Men’s bodies give out sooner than others; especially if they have lived a hard life.”
But someone did this, he mouthed to the prince.
I don’t doubt it.
“He was our best lead,” Leralonde mumbled aloud, looking with disgust on the Man’s body.
“What can we do now, Highness?”
“Get rid of that,” said the prince to the guards, getting to his feet. “Burn it, bury it...just put him where he won’t trouble anyone anymore.”
Saelbeth caught up to him just as Leralonde reached the end of the hall.
"Have someone check his food," said the prince, almost as an afterthought, "and get me a list of everyone who has been on duty or working in the kitchen that prepared whatever he ate in the last few days..."
"Aye.”
“Are you well meleth nin?” he whispered, his manner softening as he turned to his lover again.
“It is distressing situation...
“Highness,” he said in a low voice, “one of the guards told me something judy before you came. That Man, he muttered something as he died, but no one knows what it meant."
"What did he say?"
"A foreign word perhaps...or a name. Kebu?"
"It is not much more to go on."
The prince glanced over Saelbeth’s shoulder to make sure no one saw, as he gently brushed his fingers over his lover’s hand.
“Worry not about me, my prince. I am just a bit tired.” He smiled and lowered his voice a bit more, “Your child is beginning to make its presence known.”
“I wish I was going with you to Rivendell. I...”
“Your place is here...besides, I’ve made this journey before and on my own...it will be well...”
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“I have heard, my lord, that among Elves there are some males who are able to bear children,” said the healer, “but I had never seen one before.”
“You are lucky we are old friends,” Emau frowned, finding no humor in the man’s jest, “most would not speak such foolishness to me.”
“It is not foolishness, my prince. He is with child...it is also not the first time from what I can tell. Though Arya must have had any previous pregnancies terminated.
“I can bring his fever down, and he will need much rest. I know nothing of male pregnancy...however, it is a fact that the so-called healers that the brothel keepers often hire are little more than butchers. It’s not unusual for their methods to leave some lasting damage.
“He will be lucky to survive the birth...to say nothing of even carrying the child to term..."
“Do what you can for him, Aran.
“As you have said, I would have surely perished but for this slave...”
Emau took a seat on the cot beside the increasingly pale Elf when they were alone. “Do you have any idea who the sire is?” he asked curiously.
The slave looked aside, miserably. He had some idea; it almost would have been easier if he didn’t. The only person to have him around the time he would have conceived had been one of the high priest's cruel minions; one who had been most imaginative in his twisted way. He carried two or three new scars on his body lest he ever forget those nights.
Of course he had realized some weeks ago that he had conceived; he could not be an Elf and not have realized it. But he had refused to acknowledge the fact and the bond he shared with this tiny life within.
The pieces that remained of his heart could not longer endure the pain every time he miscarried or his child was torn away unborn...
What would happen with the child he carried now...and who was it who now held a claim on his life, if not Arya or Behdad...
After last time, he had been ready to forsake his life, but how could he when he was now forced to admit the truth to himself?
And he wondered if perhaps the Valar didn’t reserve some punishment in the hereafter for a pregnant elf who chose death, taking with them their unborn child...but he doubted there could be any worse cruelty after death than he had endured in life.
“You must rest now,” said the prince gently.
“Aran will help us get out of the city in a few days. But it is a long journey to the king’s camp. And the way will certainly be swarming with Rebels.”
TBC...
Elvish Translations:
Meleth nin / my love
- Happy reading, and let me know what y’all think.- -
Uncertain
“...the elf did a good job with your wounds, Highness.
“You’re lucky; had he known less than he seems to, you would not have lived long enough to find me.”
“It makes you wonder where a slave would acquire such learning...” observed the prince, leaning back on the bed, as Aran finished with his examination.
“Even whores are not born so...and it is said Elves are long lived. Surely there must have been a time when he had another life.”
“Well, it is not as if we can ask him...and there are other concerns at the moment. The longer we hide in the city the more likely we’ll be found, and you as well for aiding a son of the king...”
“I have had news of your father, Highness,” said the healer. “He is encamped in the mountains not a week’s journey northeast of here.
“Though for now you will have to remain here until you are well enough to travel.
“There is no point evading capture if you are going to bleed to death in the desert..."
“Could you do me one more favor, Aran,” said the prince, reluctantly accepting the assessment of the young healer who was a friend from his earliest years.
“The elf has eaten almost nothing in the past two days, and he seems to be weakening...
“Could you have a look at him while we are here?”
“As you wish, Highness. And in the meantime you will follow my instructions and be still...”
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“What do you mean he’s dead?”
Leralonde pushed past the guards and rushed into the cell, where Saelbeth was already kneeling beside the Easterling slaver’s body.
“Healer Vaurna says it looks like it was his heart. It was too late by the time he got here.”
“He could not have been more than fifty. That’s not that old even by Mortal standards.”
“Some Men’s bodies give out sooner than others; especially if they have lived a hard life.”
But someone did this, he mouthed to the prince.
I don’t doubt it.
“He was our best lead,” Leralonde mumbled aloud, looking with disgust on the Man’s body.
“What can we do now, Highness?”
“Get rid of that,” said the prince to the guards, getting to his feet. “Burn it, bury it...just put him where he won’t trouble anyone anymore.”
Saelbeth caught up to him just as Leralonde reached the end of the hall.
"Have someone check his food," said the prince, almost as an afterthought, "and get me a list of everyone who has been on duty or working in the kitchen that prepared whatever he ate in the last few days..."
"Aye.”
“Are you well meleth nin?” he whispered, his manner softening as he turned to his lover again.
“It is distressing situation...
“Highness,” he said in a low voice, “one of the guards told me something judy before you came. That Man, he muttered something as he died, but no one knows what it meant."
"What did he say?"
"A foreign word perhaps...or a name. Kebu?"
"It is not much more to go on."
The prince glanced over Saelbeth’s shoulder to make sure no one saw, as he gently brushed his fingers over his lover’s hand.
“Worry not about me, my prince. I am just a bit tired.” He smiled and lowered his voice a bit more, “Your child is beginning to make its presence known.”
“I wish I was going with you to Rivendell. I...”
“Your place is here...besides, I’ve made this journey before and on my own...it will be well...”
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“I have heard, my lord, that among Elves there are some males who are able to bear children,” said the healer, “but I had never seen one before.”
“You are lucky we are old friends,” Emau frowned, finding no humor in the man’s jest, “most would not speak such foolishness to me.”
“It is not foolishness, my prince. He is with child...it is also not the first time from what I can tell. Though Arya must have had any previous pregnancies terminated.
“I can bring his fever down, and he will need much rest. I know nothing of male pregnancy...however, it is a fact that the so-called healers that the brothel keepers often hire are little more than butchers. It’s not unusual for their methods to leave some lasting damage.
“He will be lucky to survive the birth...to say nothing of even carrying the child to term..."
“Do what you can for him, Aran.
“As you have said, I would have surely perished but for this slave...”
Emau took a seat on the cot beside the increasingly pale Elf when they were alone. “Do you have any idea who the sire is?” he asked curiously.
The slave looked aside, miserably. He had some idea; it almost would have been easier if he didn’t. The only person to have him around the time he would have conceived had been one of the high priest's cruel minions; one who had been most imaginative in his twisted way. He carried two or three new scars on his body lest he ever forget those nights.
Of course he had realized some weeks ago that he had conceived; he could not be an Elf and not have realized it. But he had refused to acknowledge the fact and the bond he shared with this tiny life within.
The pieces that remained of his heart could not longer endure the pain every time he miscarried or his child was torn away unborn...
What would happen with the child he carried now...and who was it who now held a claim on his life, if not Arya or Behdad...
After last time, he had been ready to forsake his life, but how could he when he was now forced to admit the truth to himself?
And he wondered if perhaps the Valar didn’t reserve some punishment in the hereafter for a pregnant elf who chose death, taking with them their unborn child...but he doubted there could be any worse cruelty after death than he had endured in life.
“You must rest now,” said the prince gently.
“Aran will help us get out of the city in a few days. But it is a long journey to the king’s camp. And the way will certainly be swarming with Rebels.”
TBC...
Elvish Translations:
Meleth nin / my love