Among the thorns

Disclaimer- I own nothing- if you recognise it- it i min mine!!!

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His eyes narrowed in rage at the appearance of the maiden. Her skin was waxen and her eyes closed. Her exhaustion and pain must be great for her to sleep with her eyes closed.

She had been battered, bruised and possibly raped. He had no time to stop and see to any of her wounds.

Carefully, he lifted her, the girl only whimpered softly. Setting her down as comfortably as he could at the base of a large oak tree, he then set about making a fire. The hour was late and the sun was retiring, soon the stars would be their only company.

As he stoked the fire, his sensitive ears caught the sound of hooves. It was an elven horse, that much he knew, but who it was remained to be seen.

A white horse bearing a rider who was hidden by a blue cloak, casually made its way over to the small camp.

The rider leapt off of his horse and embraced Elrohir.

“Brother, how did you find me?”

Elladan drew back his hood, to reveal his identical high cheekbones, grey eyes and long dark hair.

“Ro. You underestimate me”

Seeing the bundle near the tree he raised an eyebrow

“Are you now in the habit of stealing maiden’s brother?”

Elrohir’s eyes turned dark and his expression one of anger and concern. He made his way over to his discarded pack and took out a carefully wrapped bundle of medicines. He looked over to his brother and motioned for him to remove his cloak and set it on the ground.

“I found her here a short while ago. I had to make a fire before I could try to tend to her wounds”

Elladan watched as his brothers features hardened and his eyes became fierce. His brother was a gentle elf who was patient and kind. It was rare that this side of him was seen, by anyone.

Elrohir stood and lifted the girl as gently as he could and brought her to rest on Elladan’s cloak.

Together the two set about boiling water and cleaning her wounds. Elladan, being mindful of her wounds removed her dress and laid Elrohir’s cloak over her to hide her nakedness. Identical eyes met as they saw the blood and sticky residue on her bruised thighs.

A moan came from her parted lips and the two waited. They hoped that she would be calm upon awaking, they were after all elves like herself.

Her lids parted to reveal startling green eyes. They widened in panic and she tried to sit up. She clutched her abdomen in pain as she tried to sit up. Tears made their way down her now clean face.

Taking charge, Elrohir placed his hands on her shoulders and gently pushed her down.

“Shh, we not not here to harm you. We only wish to help”

He said softly.

She looked at them both and lay down.

She did not trust them, but her pain was too great and her spirit did not wish to fight.

“I am sorry, but we must clean your wounds lest they become infected. I am truly sorry my lady” Elladan said.

He glanced at his brother ailenilent words were passed between them. Elladan slowly placed his slender hands underneath her and rolled her over, he then quickly moved to her legs as Elrohir moved to her head. Elrohir lifted her shoulders and placed then on his knees, she now lay on her stomach.

Parting her thighs Elladan hardened his expression, blood was still making it's way down her thighs, mixed with the black of the orcs seed. Inwardly he cried out in horror, she was torn and battered and it would no doubt pain her for somethime to come.

He raised his eyes and looked at his brother; deciding that it would be better to care for the whip wounds on her back he reached for a cloth.

She knew what was coming braced herself. She waited and was shocked when it did not happen. She felt only gentle hands on her back. The pain was dull as she felt him clean the whip wounds.

Elrohir, sensing her distress decided it would be best to talk to her.

“I am Elrohir and this is my brother Elladan. I am sorry for the inconvenience my lady but you will just have to lie back and enjoy it while we lavish attention on you”

She tried to laugh but it hurt. It had been so long since laughter had passed her lips. It had given Elrohir exactly what he had wanted.

She stiffened as she felt Elladan’s hands on her backside.

Elrohir was quick to save the situation and while Elladan worked, he talked avidly to her. As her discomfort increased he held her hands tightly.

Elladan coated his fingers with a healing athelas paste; carefully he inserted a slender finger into her battered entrance, feeling her tense he waited and let her become used to the intrusion; he did not wish for her to think that he would assault her.

Feeling her realax, somewhat forceably, he cleaned the wounds as carefully as he could.

As he did so memories of the hurt and pain assaulted her.

She cried out and he stopped for a moment while she regained her mind.

Elrohir bent down and whispered to her, hoping to distract her. Her hands clung to his as she wept.

They waited and within a few minutes she was quiet once more.

Sharing a look with his brother they switched placed. The maiden was too exhausted to notice. Carefully they rolled her over again and laid her on her back.

The night had set in and the stars caught her attention. Their shining depths sparked something in her, though she did not know it.

Talking advantage of her distraction Elrohir quickly cleaned hest ist intimate parts. She flinched as his fingers moved within her. He became worried as more blood coated his hands. With some regret he moved deeper and felt the entrance of her womb. He discovered that this was the cause of the bleeding.

He worked quickly to try and stem the bleeding before the wound became life threatening.

Elladan had to hold her down when she felt Elrohir's fingers, her hips bucked and she desperately tried to escape from his touch.

"No, No, leave me, just let me die, please don't touch me"

She pleaded with Elladan but it was to no effect. He did not like what he had to do but it was out of necessity not malice.

Elrohir sat back on his heals and nodded at Ella who who let her go. She did not move when she felt his hands leave her shoulders; instead she lay back, tears of exhaustion threatening.

As he watched her Elrohir felt despair, his expression was one of neutrality but inside the rage for the spawn ordoordor was building, as was Elladan’s.

Taking the oppertunity he cleaned the wounds on her torso, huge scars ran over her breasts, scars that would turn silver but would never dissapear.

By now the maiden had stopped looking so intently at the stars and was now focused on Elladan who smiled softly down at her.

“Hello my lady, may I have the pleasure of your name?”

He asked her, bending down to whisper it and hoping to distract her from Elrohir’s ministrations.

She winced as Elrohir cleaned a deep scratch on her stomach but kept her eyes on Elladan.

“Tanithia”

Elladan smiled,

“That is a beautiful name”

She smiled genuinely at him.

Elrohir packed away what he had used and placed then near the fire. He had done all he could with the simplest of tools. All they could do now was hope that she would hold until they reached Imladris. His eyes scanned the trees. Not wishing to meet any evils over the night as it would be impossible to make a fast exit with Tanithia in the condition that she was.

Elrohir was a kind spirit who wished nothing but a quiet life. The idea of finding a maiden and starting a family was far from his mind though. While orcs roamed free over their lands he could not rest. To see such an innocent be subjected to the torture that this maiden had fuelled the hatred towards them.

Grey eyes, turned dark through anger, met his twins. Elladan felt just as he did. However it would not be wise to discuss it while Tanithia was still awake.

He smiled at the picture she and his brother made. She was a small elf, her frame lithe but thin from lack of nourishment. Her body was deceptively thin. For her to have survived she must be quite a warrior. But if that was so, how was she captured in the first place?

Her skin was clean but her hair was still in tangles. She was as beautiful as all the elder were, high cheekbones, round eyes that sparkled like emeralds and full lips. She was in pain, he could see it from where he stood, but she tried her best to ignore it and remarkably, she did not shed one tear.

His brother was a warrior, he had devoted his time to the sword whereas Elrohir had devoted his time to literature and art. Though he too had been taught the sword and could use it well. Both of the twins had spent many years with their father, learning the art of healing. It had turned out that Elrohir was more the healer and Elladan the warrior, it was then that they had found their paths.

“Where do yome ome from my lady?”

Elrohir asked as he sat beside them.

A range of emotions passed over her face before she answered.

“Lothlorien”

The twins smiled, they regularly visited Lothlorien to see their grandparents.

“Perhaps we have seen each other but we do not recognise the other” Elladan joked, making Tanithia smile.

~

They were not intending to hurt me. It had been so long since somebody had touched me with care that I almost felt afraid of them. In truth, I am not afraid of them, am only afraid of my memories. When they healed me the pain almost became unbearable. But having one of them talk to me was more intriguing and their care touched my heart.

They were both beautiful. Dark hair and the most innocent grey eyes, although I am sure that they are anything but innocent. They have a playful side to them, that had already become obvious.

When Elrohir asked me where I lived, feelings which I did not know I harboured emerged. I do not feel that I have a home anymore. I had thrown away the privilege of calling myself a warrior and a daughter of Lothlorien the minute I had left my home.

My mind was telling me to cry. Yet my heart told me that there was something beyond the tears. Something urged me to place my trust in their hands.

They seemed to do things together without even talking. They certainly were a mystery.

“Where are you from?”

I tentatively asked, afraid of making them angry.

Elladan looked at me before answering. There was a depth in his eyes, Elrohir’s as well, that was both fascinating and terrifying. I could get lost in them.

“We hail from Imladris, home of Lord Elrond. As you know I am Elladan and this is my brother Elrohir, we are the sons of Elrond and Celebrian”

I nodded. My head was still on Elladan knees, and I tried to sit up. A sharp pain shot through my stomach and I stopped. Elrohir rushed over from his place beside the fire where he was cooking something. My eyes stung with tears as the pain got worse.

~

I left my place at the fire when I heard a cry, it had come from Tanithia. Her hand shot to her stomach and I could see her eyes glistening with tears that she refused to let fall. Her breathing became shallow her chest heaved with the effort of trying to stay where she was. She had managed to sit up and I was surprised that she had made it that far. The injuries that she had sustained from the rapes would make her immobile. She would not be able to walk for some weeks and the simplest of tasks would be difficult for her.

I laid my hands on her shoulders and she raised her head. Her green eyes were misty, she was exhausted, yet afraid to sleep.

“Shh, you must lie still”

She nodded and tried to lie back down. Unfortunately, it just caused more pain for her. She bust into tears and sat with her head bowed, tears running down her pale face.

I placed one arm around her shoulders and one underneath her bent knees and gently lifted her. She whimpered but her tears stopped. The cloak that was still covering her naked body was not enough to warm her weak body, therefore I had no choice but to move her closer to the fire.

With great care I sat down and settled her on my knee. To my surprise and wonder, she placed her head on my shoulder and secured herself in my arms.

We sat in silence. It was only then that I realised that Elladan had not spoken a word. I looked around and saw him tending to the horses. He caught my eyes and nodded a small smile playing on his lips.

~

I don’t know what it was but when he picked me up I instantly wanted to snuggle into his arms. The way he treated me made me feel safe. But then there was a part of me that wanted to slap him, for an instant I had been torn between the two. But he did not deserve my anger.

The pain slowly subsided as I lay in his arms like a child. It was long since I had just been held by somebody and my body welcomed the offered contact.

I gazed at the flames of the fire for a while, watching them dance and listening to them crackle. So beautiful and yet so deadly.

I heard footsteps approach and lifted my head to see that it was Elladan. He crouched down beside his brother and offered me a drink. Elrohir lifted my head and I drank it. It was bitter and it was reluctant to go down. It had a sleep inducing drug in it. I’d know that taste anywhere, my mother was very fond of


I laid my head back down, the last thing I saw and heard were smiling faces and an old lullaby.

~

Elladan sighed and shook his head.

He rose sharply and began pacing. His booted feet crunching the fallen leaves and twigs.

“This should not have happened Ro”

His twin looked down at the sleeping girl in his arms.

“No, you are right. It should not have happened. But it did and there is nng tng that can change that”

Elladan shook his head, his anger beginning to die down. The fire cast a shadow and made the elf look more intimidating than he actually was.

“Dan, would you please sit down”

Elladan sent a sharp look in his brother’s direction but did as he was asked.

“What shall we do tomorrow?”

“We shall leave early, hopefully we should make it home before nightfall”

Elladan nodded.

“I do not like this Ro. At all” he said looked at Tanithia who slept with a troubled look on her face.