Faded Light

(For additional notes and disclaimers please see top of Chapter 1. Though if you’ve read this far, you probably already know what’s going on.)

- -I'm not really happy with three of the next four chapters...this part always felt a bit rushed to me and it's a bit short for my taste, like there's something missing. But it's the way it worked out; maybe one day I'll go back and figure out what it is...

Anyway, I'd really appreciate feedback for this one.


Chapter 13
Haradrim Revolt

Even in the isolation of Sauron’s Temple the rumors had been coming for many months now of the rebel victories to the north and east of the city; how King Javad’s forces would not long survive, cut off as they were from their stronghold and surrounded, even from within, by traitors.

Dafi had no opinion on the matter; one King of Harad was not likely to be any different from another, particularly from a slave’s perspective. If Behdad meant to give the Elf to the king, he just as likely would make him a gift to whoever followed Javad on the throne.

But he had listened to all the gossip when no one thought the slave to be paying attention.

That was a lesson he had learned not in Harad but long ago, having himself grown up amidst all the intrigues of a Royal court.

But no idle whispers had prepared him or anyone else for what began a few days ago when the traitors in the palace came out of hiding and the city of the Haradrim fell quickly into chaos...

Tonight, the rebels had finally reached the temple itself, making quick work of the guard.

And if the priests or any of those who had taken refuge inside expected some kind of deliverance to come from Sauron or from the other dark gods of Harad, they were fatally disappointed.

The Men found him in his locked room in the servant's quarters and while under other circumstances he was certain that he would have served for the amusement of these Men, on this day through some unknown providence he was spared the outrage...

"What shall we do with him?" asked the Man holding him when the slave had been dragged before their leader, looking the elf over. "I would not mind a comely slave of my own to warm my bed."

Unlike others, the look the rebel lord threw his way was not of lust, but of the sort one might give to something noticed amidst the dirt on the ground.

"Leave him," he ordered, "We are not here to take slaves." With one more distasteful glance the slave's way, he walked away muttering something about temple prostitutes.

"Find Prince Emau. He is supposed to be here.

"And keep a leash on your lust, Vonne," he added. "This is neither the time nor the place."

"Pity," whispered the other with a sound of disappointment, taking his time before releasing the youth. "I can just imagine what you'd feel like whimpering beneath me..."

For several moments he feared, the Man would give in to his own desires rather than letting him go, but after a long minute he loosened his grip on the arm he had been holding, shoving the slave aside impatiently. "Get out whore before I change my mind and find out for myself what you're good for."

The Man's leer followed the slave out of the hall along with the sting of his leader’s hateful glare, making the youth feel even more base...


TBC...