Adult-FanFiction.org : Lord of the Rings

Scarred Fate	By : Massanie Category: +Third Age > Slash - Male/Male Views: 2051 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 41
- 42
- 43
CHAPTER 42: Trial of Strength

CHAPTER NOTES

SCRIPTS:

'Thoughts'; ~visions~; **mind speech**; -l-Letters-l-

Elrond's party had reached the northern extensions of Mirkwood this very morning, riding along the edges of the old withering forest which's tree tops were towering to their right. Legolas had then led the way into the great forest, following the course of the Forest River downstream. It would lead them to the outpost.

During their journey they had shared the last week's happenings with the young Greenwood prince and more and more Legolas believed them; who would be able to think out such a story anyway?

And if it should prove to be wrong, there was no harm in seeing into the matter. Surely it would help to improve the relationship between their realms if Greenwood took Elrond's worries seriously. Legolas halted his horse and turned to the Noldorin Elves behind him.

"We are now very close to the camp of lord Brandon's sons. Let me speak first. I am his superior and he will have to listen to my orders."

Glorfindel looked first to his lover then to the young blond prince. "Erestor won't be in the camp but in the close surroundings. It is of essential importance that they do not get the chance to warn his captors or they will take him in the undergrowth and we will lose him."

"Good, so we will have to rush through the lines of guards."

"Glorfindel, your only task is to watch the people in the camp. Observe them. The moment one leaves ..." Elrond began. He knew that he did not have to go into the details; Glorfindel would act in his usual professional way. His captain looked back and established eye contact with some of his guards, silently telling them with curt nods who was to observe the Silvans along with him.

Then the party spurred their horses on, galloping along the Forest River deeper into the dark woods.

Soon it seemed that the trees were closing in on them and the Noldorin soldiers ducked their heads, nervously awaiting the moment the camp would appear between the dark tree trunks or the green uniform of a Greenwood sentry, calling out to them.

And indeed it did not take long before a blond soldier jumped from one of the trees in front of them. His face was pale with worry as he stood in the way of his prince and a whole unit of Noldorin soldiers. Raising both hands in an attempt to stop the riders, the young soldier called out to them "My prince ..."

But Legolas only slowed scarcely perceptible and straightened in his saddle. Copying the arrogant expression he had seen his father using when dealing with unwelcome guests he commanded the soldier to stand aside, forcing him to do so by riding towards the blond guard and making him jump out of his way.

Looking back Glorfindel saw with disdain as the young soldier clasped a shivering hand over his mouth. 'Guilty as charged' the seneschal thought; at least he was now certain that they were searching for Erestor in the right place.

Minutes later the party dashed into the camp, halting their horses between the tall and strong trees that hid the telain so well. Legolas turned his horse, trying to spot the one he sought, but in vain.

Immediately the resident elves appeared on the flat's edges, looking down at them in apparent shock as the Noldorin took their positions. They loosely spread around the camp, keeping an eye on the Mirkwood elves, their bows resting in one hand: not yet drawn but showing their willingness to do so.

"I want every ellon and elleth down here immediately; no one is to leave the camp! And get me lord Brandon!"

Hesitantly the elves complied, leaving the tree's protection to stand before their prince, bowing respectfully to him (not to the Imladris elves, as Elrond noted).

The Imladrian elves used the opportunity to observe the camp while Legolas had to deal with his people. They could not see on top of the various telain but they didn't need to, to see that the elves in this camp hid something. Their nervousness was nearly seizable.

"I am here, my liege." A tall ellon stepped out and bowed deeply to his prince.

"My lords." He repeated the gesture towards the darker ellyn also, but somewhat mockingly. Cold eyes swept over the newcomers but Glorfindel saw something else in those orbs, too. A nervous flicker. He had seen enough liars, traitors and other foul beings to know the signs. The little twitch of the corner of his mouth told him all he needed to know.

"What brings you to this rather far-off post?"

"I have no time for games, lord Brandon. We are searching for Erestor."

A noticeable movement went through the assembled elves like a rustling of leaves; But curiously enough there were no whispers, no gasps of surprise, just this nervous movement, this flicker.

Glorfindel observed the elves in front of him, disgust rising in his throat. All of them knew, all of them were involved. How could *Eldar* do this to one of their kind?

But he could not let his attention wane now in these critical moments. During the next seconds it would show if they would warn Erestor's guards, showing the Noldor the way to the missing counsellor.

Suddenly he saw a movement out of the corner of his eyes. Without turning he directed his gaze to the position and saw a tall ellon stepping into the dark forest, blending in with the shadows beneath.

Drawing the attention of Tauron, who stood nearby, he indicated the direction in which the blond elf had vanished and without ostentation he slowly left the assembly, following the Silvan with Tauron at his heels.

Of all the assembled elves, few noticed the disappearance of the three elves, all attention lying on Elrond, Legolas and Brandon; especially on Brandon, who was confronted with the crime they all had part in.

"The chief advisor of lord Elrond? Why should he be here?"

Elrond urged his dark horse forward, looking down on his chief advisor's uncle. "Remember that a ring-bearer is present. Do not try to lie to me."

"I did not lie, my lord." And indeed he had not, so far, as he had only been asking counter questions.

"But look for yourself if you don't believe me: you will not find him here. But then ..." he turned to Legolas "... since when does one of the royal family take orders from a Noldo?"

"You go too far, advisor." The young prince replied but he then turned away from his father's advisor and to the other elves.

"We are searching for lord Erestor of Imladris. We know that the soldiers in this camp kidnapped him and they will be punished severely. However, I'll amnesty those who tell me where we can find lord Elrond's chief advisor, this I swear by my honour."

Looking back to Brandon, Legolas smiled evilly as he saw how the advisor tried to keep his friends, his family in check with his glare and keep them from telling him but to no avail.

Shortly later Elrond saw out of the corner of his eyes how an elleth stepped forward, her eyes red-rimmed from crying but her face unhealthily pale. Elrond frowned as the healer in him examined her pallor and shaking. He saw how one of the Mirkwood guards grasped her arm tightly and pulled her towards himself, whispering something in her ear.

Just as he wanted to call Legolas' attention to the woman, she pulled herself free and started to scream and curse and cry and rant. Elrond felt a chill running down his spine when she started screaming her accusations, as he could well imagine how she felt.

"No, let go Húrphen, LET GO! He's our curse, Brandon you're damned! You SCUM OF MORDOR! LET GO! HE KILLED MY BOYS! HE'LL KILL US ALL!"

"Shut up, Aereth!" An ellon called but Legolas intervened, his voice leaving no room for disobedience. "Let her talk!"

Sobbing she pointed at Brandon. "Dirty seducer! My boys, Brandon, my boys ..."

Turning to her prince, she despairingly tried to reason, to intercede for those who were beyond mundane judgement. "They had nothing evil in mind ... they were young ... and naive, and they ... he promised them fortunes and power ... but HE got them nothing, he only got them killed ... Please, they ... they did not think straight! They meant no harm ..."

Legolas looked back to Elrond, shock apparent in his young eyes, asking for help from the ellon so much more experienced than himself.

Brandon saw the princes reaction with rising unease. Up to now he had been sure to be able to save his skin as long as they did not find Elethael. But now those traitors started to backstab him. He had to intervene now ... "Aereth lost all three of her sons three weeks ago in a hunting accident on which I took them. Now she blames me ... if anyone kidnapped this ellon, it was not *me*."

"Shut up, you liar!" another younger ellon called. "They brought him early this afternoon. Fiondil took him to their quarters ... Fiondil is ... they are married."

Elrond swallowed. It was already getting dark; Erestor's husband had had every time in the world to do with his chief advisor as he pleased. Forcing himself not to think of what was happening to Erestor in this quarters, he concentrated on the ellon standing in front of him.

"Can you lead us there?" Legolas asked.

The blond youth nodded. "Yes, my liege. But it's twenty minutes from here, I'd guess."

"Then let's make it in ten."

CHAPTER END NOTES

ellon ~ male elf

Ellyn ~ male elves

elleth ~ female elf

telain ~ wooden platforms
- 41
- 42
- 43
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Scarred Fate