Killing Beauty

Lady Melann knew the moment Inda returned with her prize. Bound in ropes that he could not escape from, the elf glared defiantly at her, proof that he was a better catch than that miserable creature that Inda had brought her.

Examining the magnificent elf in the dark garden, she grabbed his chin and turned his face so she could study him better. "What is your name, my beauty?" she asked politely. When he refused to speak, she said, "Never mind, I have someone who can tell me. Go get her," she ordered. Then smiling at Haldir, she said, "I'm sorry, but I must secure you now. Forgive the discomfort." At that he was dragged to a T-post and secured to it, his hands bound to each end of the cross bar. It wasn't tall enough for him to stand comfortably, and with his back bent so his weight was supported by his upper arms, he was most uncomfortable.

The princess, rediculously defiant and most annoying, jerked out of the servant's hands and growled, "Don't touch me!" Then seeing Lady Melann's prisoner, she yelped, "Haldir! Haldir, are you all right?"

"Told you," Lady Melann said to Inda with a melicious smile. "Someone go get Ashva. She might as well know we have her lover. If she cooperates, perhaps she can enjoy him just a little while longer." Then looking down at the princess who had wrapped herself around Haldir's leg, she said, "Oh please, get up. Behave yourself and I'll let you watch."

The princess, unbelievably stupid and no doubt only a half sister to Lady Galadriel, glared up defintly and swore, "Just you wait! When Haldir gets loose..."

"But he won't," Lady Melann assured her and then noticed Haldir's weapons in an Os rider's hands. The sword in particular caught her fancy. "Let me see that," she said and held out her hand, old memories coming back. "Do you know what it reminds me of?" she asked Inda.

"No, my lady."

"Hadhafang, Lord Elrond's sword." Turning to Haldir, she asked, "Was that your intention." Once more she all she got was stoney silence. "First lesson," she told Inda. Ashva entered the garden as her mother touched the tip of her finger to Haldir's left hand. She watched in horror as her mother said, "Hurt a hand enough and you can make a man or elf sick." Haldir tried to jerk his hand away but he couldn't and the pain steadily increased until it felt as if it was being crushed. Only when he relented and gave her the cry that she wanted did she stop. "Had I done it to your petty head, I would have killed you."

Haldir believed her.

"Ashva," Lady Melann said and turned to her stricken daughter, "I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but I was afraid you would find some way to warn him. Please forgive me, and thank-you, He's beautiful. Does he delight you?" Ashva couldn't speak as she stared into Haldir's eyes. Did he think that she had delibertely betrayed him?

"Oh, and I have one more surprise for all of you," she preened and clapped her hands together. Even the Os riders were taken back by the appearance of an orc. "Be nice," Lady Melann said as the creature approached the bound elf.

Snarling into Haldir's face, he said, "When they are through with you, I'm going to roast and eat your flesh."

"I hope you choke on a bone," Haldir retorted indignantly. Orcs always smelled like sour meat and clotted blood.

"Spirit, I love it," Lady Melann said and waved the orc away. Looking down at the princess who was still clinging to Haldir's leg, she asked, "Tell me about him, my dear."

The foolish ellyth looked up and said, "Haldir is marchwarden of Lothlorien. No elf is braver than he."

"Indeed." Then to Ashva, she asked, "Is that true, or is she just exaggerating?"

Ashva fought back the tears and said, "There is no one braver."

"Quite a compliment," Lady Melann said directly to Haldir. "Do all elves think as highly of you or just the females? And I expect an answer." A long finger caressed his throat.

"I don't know," Haldir answered.

Lady Melann was just thrilled. "I wish I didn't have to kill you," she commented almost regretfully. "But we'll keep you alive long enough to train Ashva, then we'll add your soul to the ones we've already sent to my beloved Sauron. Your strength will be most intoxicating, I certain. If I could find enough elven warriors like you, my Lord Sauron will be flesh in no time."

Ashva, tearing her eyes off Haldir, asked, "What kind of training, Mother?"

"The kind that will make his blood boil," she assured her daughter. "And this time you will do it right. I'll not let you waste him."

"You just wait!" the princess snapped and climbed to her feet.

"Oh, take her back to her room," Lady Melann groaned irritably with a wave of her hand. "I don't know why I keep her alive."

Ashva couldn't move, her eyes back on the bound elf. The nightmare was replaying itself, only worse this time.

Seeing the ache in her daughter's eyes, Lady Melann leaned over her shoulder and said, "It won't be hard. You caress him the way you always have, only you add more. He won't feel any pain, I assure you."

Ashva met her mother's lacivious gaze and said, "Please let him go."

"Let him go? I mean to rip his heart out," she answered coldly. "And if you can not do what I ask, we will end this now. My Lord Sauron will return in the flesh, and I mean to send this one's spirit to him."