Faded Light
folder
-Multi-Age › Slash - Male/Male
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
20
Views:
10,236
Reviews:
26
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
-Multi-Age › Slash - Male/Male
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
20
Views:
10,236
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.
Answers
(For additional notes and disclaimers, please see top of Chapter 1.)
Chapter 14
Answers
He placed the leaf pendant on the table in front of the hateful Man, not bothering to hide the rage consuming him.
“Where did you get that?”
“What’s in it for me, if I start talking?” smirked the Man, full of false self-assurance, which did not fool Ruthlagor for a moment.
“You might get a quick death, if I’m in a charitable mood,” said the normally calm Elf, emphasizing the end of his sentence with a string of Elven curses the man did not understand. But it had the effect of shaking some of the superstitious bandit’s resolve; even the other Elves in the room looked to each other uncomfortably.
“It was years ago,” he said quickly. “I was but a youth myself...I had no part in any of that.”
“Part in what?”
The slaver hesitated for a long moment, but it seemed he had decided it might be best for him to look cooperative. “I wasn’t in the battle...I only saw the one prisoner, afterwards, the one our captain brought back for his own pleasure.”
“Prisoner?
"You’re talking about a massacre that happened on our borders some twenty years ago."
“Was this prisoner a slender, blond youth...?” asked Saelbeth, his voice tight.
“Aye. I do remember, he was very fair.”
“And he wore this?” The Elven lord pointed to the pendant again, which the human no doubt had thought an unimportant ornament.
The Man looked away, becoming even more uneasy. “I found the trinket in the grass...after they was done...I didn’t join in that though...” he insisted.
“What did your men do with the youth? Tell me!”
“We didn’t often trade in slaves back then,” he began. “But our captain, he had been wantin' some amusement, so he decides to bring himself back a live Elf.” The Man continued to look anywhere but at his captors’ faces, and Ruthlagor almost believed his regretful tone.
“I only saw what they done,” the Man swore again. “I never touched the boy...almost felt sorry for him. Even now, I can still remember his screams...”
Ruthlagor had turned away by then, trying to control his stomach.
“They beat him for a long time, mostly because he kept fighting, even bound like he was. He was almost unconscious when they tied his arms to the low branches of a tree...and the captain...he starts cutting off his clothes, and having his fun..." the Man's face twisted slightly with the distasteful memory.
“Except he’s ain’t really satisfied cause the Elf passes out pretty quick, so he takes him again when he wakes up and even lets some of the men have a turn...it was the only time he was in a sharin' mood; he kept him for himself every night after that."
“You’re implying that your captain took him with you,” said Saelbeth taking over the questioning, and somehow maintaining his own composure. “What finally happened to him?”
The Man shrugged uncaringly. “After a few days, the captain decides the Elf ain't worth the trouble and leaves him to the desert. I guess he musta died...woulda been a mercy, if he died quick...” the loathsome slaver finished.
“I don’t believe you,” Ruthlagor ground out, tightly.
“Believe what you want, Elf. I’ve told you what I know. It was a long time ago; you can't expect me to remember every detail.
“What’s with that jewel anyway?" he asked. "And what's the boy to you?”
“Selbeth, lock up this garbage. I may have further questions.”
“Aye, my lord.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“What do you have for me, Hanan?” said the dark-haired Elf signaling for the royal guard in his employ to lock the door and take a seat.
“I took a peek at Healer Vaurna’s archives this afternoon,” said Hanan taking a comfortable chair in front of his lord’s desk. “It seems within a year, Advisor Saelbeth will be welcoming a new addition into his family. The file didn’t say who the sire is, but I don’t think we need to guess.
“I take it you will want Lord Ruthlagor to find out how his heir has been spending his nights...” he went on. “Or rather in whose arms.”
“I would like to see the look on Ruthlagor’s prudish face when he gets that bit of news," said Esarulir. "But not yet...we’ll see to that later.
“There is another matter at the moment,” he said, making note of everything he was learning from his spy. “That foolish human who Ruthlagor has been questioning...I don’t know what he might have said, but I don’t want him questioned again. Do you understand?”
“It will be taken care of, my lord.”
“You’re sure none of these other Men are from Kebu’s old band?” he asked.
“Quite certain,” said the guard. “Most of these are Easterlings. They most likely never met Kebu. It has been so many years many of those Humans have since died.”
“Keep your ears open. I want to know everything that happens in that prison. And every place Ruthlagor, Leralonde, Alatariel and Saelbeth go.”
TBC...
Answers
He placed the leaf pendant on the table in front of the hateful Man, not bothering to hide the rage consuming him.
“Where did you get that?”
“What’s in it for me, if I start talking?” smirked the Man, full of false self-assurance, which did not fool Ruthlagor for a moment.
“You might get a quick death, if I’m in a charitable mood,” said the normally calm Elf, emphasizing the end of his sentence with a string of Elven curses the man did not understand. But it had the effect of shaking some of the superstitious bandit’s resolve; even the other Elves in the room looked to each other uncomfortably.
“It was years ago,” he said quickly. “I was but a youth myself...I had no part in any of that.”
“Part in what?”
The slaver hesitated for a long moment, but it seemed he had decided it might be best for him to look cooperative. “I wasn’t in the battle...I only saw the one prisoner, afterwards, the one our captain brought back for his own pleasure.”
“Prisoner?
"You’re talking about a massacre that happened on our borders some twenty years ago."
“Was this prisoner a slender, blond youth...?” asked Saelbeth, his voice tight.
“Aye. I do remember, he was very fair.”
“And he wore this?” The Elven lord pointed to the pendant again, which the human no doubt had thought an unimportant ornament.
The Man looked away, becoming even more uneasy. “I found the trinket in the grass...after they was done...I didn’t join in that though...” he insisted.
“What did your men do with the youth? Tell me!”
“We didn’t often trade in slaves back then,” he began. “But our captain, he had been wantin' some amusement, so he decides to bring himself back a live Elf.” The Man continued to look anywhere but at his captors’ faces, and Ruthlagor almost believed his regretful tone.
“I only saw what they done,” the Man swore again. “I never touched the boy...almost felt sorry for him. Even now, I can still remember his screams...”
Ruthlagor had turned away by then, trying to control his stomach.
“They beat him for a long time, mostly because he kept fighting, even bound like he was. He was almost unconscious when they tied his arms to the low branches of a tree...and the captain...he starts cutting off his clothes, and having his fun..." the Man's face twisted slightly with the distasteful memory.
“Except he’s ain’t really satisfied cause the Elf passes out pretty quick, so he takes him again when he wakes up and even lets some of the men have a turn...it was the only time he was in a sharin' mood; he kept him for himself every night after that."
“You’re implying that your captain took him with you,” said Saelbeth taking over the questioning, and somehow maintaining his own composure. “What finally happened to him?”
The Man shrugged uncaringly. “After a few days, the captain decides the Elf ain't worth the trouble and leaves him to the desert. I guess he musta died...woulda been a mercy, if he died quick...” the loathsome slaver finished.
“I don’t believe you,” Ruthlagor ground out, tightly.
“Believe what you want, Elf. I’ve told you what I know. It was a long time ago; you can't expect me to remember every detail.
“What’s with that jewel anyway?" he asked. "And what's the boy to you?”
“Selbeth, lock up this garbage. I may have further questions.”
“Aye, my lord.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“What do you have for me, Hanan?” said the dark-haired Elf signaling for the royal guard in his employ to lock the door and take a seat.
“I took a peek at Healer Vaurna’s archives this afternoon,” said Hanan taking a comfortable chair in front of his lord’s desk. “It seems within a year, Advisor Saelbeth will be welcoming a new addition into his family. The file didn’t say who the sire is, but I don’t think we need to guess.
“I take it you will want Lord Ruthlagor to find out how his heir has been spending his nights...” he went on. “Or rather in whose arms.”
“I would like to see the look on Ruthlagor’s prudish face when he gets that bit of news," said Esarulir. "But not yet...we’ll see to that later.
“There is another matter at the moment,” he said, making note of everything he was learning from his spy. “That foolish human who Ruthlagor has been questioning...I don’t know what he might have said, but I don’t want him questioned again. Do you understand?”
“It will be taken care of, my lord.”
“You’re sure none of these other Men are from Kebu’s old band?” he asked.
“Quite certain,” said the guard. “Most of these are Easterlings. They most likely never met Kebu. It has been so many years many of those Humans have since died.”
“Keep your ears open. I want to know everything that happens in that prison. And every place Ruthlagor, Leralonde, Alatariel and Saelbeth go.”
TBC...