The Jewel of Mirkwood
folder
-Multi-Age › General
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
145
Views:
9,568
Reviews:
361
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
-Multi-Age › General
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
145
Views:
9,568
Reviews:
361
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.
Price of an Elf
Chapter 29
Glorfindel was frozen to the spot unable to comprehend what was happening before the familiar figure of an elf was thrown into the middle of the hall floor. Keeldon’s laughter echoed maliciously around the all but empty hall, and only the frightened scared sobs of the young elf could be heard above the laughter. Erestor could hardly breath his lungs contracting in horror at what the young prince of Mirkwood looked like. Never had he witnessed such a defiling of beauty, the prince’s features lost in a sunken world of bruises and blood. It was if the world had slowed to a dove’s pace as Glorfindel watched the young prince stand up from the floor on shaky legs. The prince was almost unrecognisable the bruises and blood strained face and Glorfindel felt his own blood begin to trickle from his hand at where his fists were so tightly clenched. The green frightened gaze of Legolas met with Glorfindel’s across the hall and it was in that moment that Glorfindel felt his heart crack.
“Glorfindel!” Legolas’ screamed the elf lord’s name having singled him out from the people in the room. The prince’s voice was raspy and coarse but nothing prepared Glorfindel for the sickening sight as the young elf tried to run towards him in desperation. As if an anvil had struck Legolas the young elf was brutally pulled backwards by the guard, the sickening snap of the tightening of leather the only sound in the hall before Legolas’ body hit the stone floor with a dull thud and a scream of pain. Without thinking Glorfindel turned to face Keeldon who was still lounging back in his breakfast chair his pipe hanging from the side of his mouth and a sick delighted grin spread across his face.
“Oh how touching, you know one another already.” Glorfindel had already unsheathed his sword and was ready to cut the man’s head off when Erestor grabbed his arm and stayed his friends’ rash move. Two elves against ten and possibly a whole city full of angry men was a doomed combination and Erestor was willing to bet that negotiations rather than fighting would more likely see a reasonable outcome. Keeldon was too calm to have not seen this coming and that alone made Erestor curious of what was going on.
“Let him roll over onto his front, he is choking can’t you see?” Glorfindel went to move towards where the guard was holding Legolas down on his back on the floor but Keeldon was instantly on his feet a hidden sword being drawn from beneath the table as the red haired man moved around to prevent the seneschal from going anywhere. Legolas’ chocked sobs and gasps for breath tore at Glorfindel’s soul and he longed to go over to the prince and hold him in comfort.
“Do not move or I will run you through like an orc.” Glorfindel froze where he was his eyes never leaving the frail struggling body of Legolas as it writhed around in agony on the stone floor.
“Yastire, let him go.” Calling over his shoulder at the guard Keeldon watched as the guard dropped the leather strap and removed his foot from Legolas’ chest allowing the young elf to roll over and begin taking in air again.
“What is your price for his release? Name it and we will pay it?” Erestor’s calm tone took Glorfindel totally by surprise and while he did not take his gaze off Legolas he did however allow Erestor to lead him back over to the table were Keeldon had once again sat himself down. Erestor’s negotiating skills would for once come in handy on this particular trip. Keeldon laughed blatantly in Erestor’s face at the bold declaration from the dark haired elf.
“What if I say he isn’t for sale?” Erestor swallowed hard, that hadn’t been the answer he’d been expecting. Turning to Glorfindel for guidance the advisor watched as his friend turned calmly away from watching Legolas to glare pointedly at Keeldon. Since Legolas had first been brought into the room Erestor saw the warriors cunning strategy return to Glorfindel’s gaze and it was a comforting look. While Glorfindel had initially been blinded by his horror at seeing Legolas in this state the seneschal had returned once again with his determination and fighting spirit in order to challenge Keeldon.
“What is it that you know?” Glorfindel’s voice was low and unnervingly calm as he addressed Keeldon. Erestor had never heard Glorfindel speak with such conviction before and it was a little confronting. Keeldon took a sip of wine from his goblet, lounging back in his chair and crossing his legs in a smug mocking fashion.
“It is not a point of what I know my dear Glorfindel of Gondolin but more a matter of what I don’t know.” Erestor frowned confused by Keeldon’s riddle but it seemed Glorfindel was not. The seneschal watched as Keeldon removed a letter from under the cloth of the table and proceeded to unfold it, deliberately stringing it out as the silence between them continued. “What I do know is that my precious beauty over there is a very popular young elf indeed? For you are not the first to have offered me anything for his release. Someone else has already done that.” Keeldon smiled knowingly at Glorfindel who sat dumb founded but not wholly unsurprised by the turn of events. So many things had gone unexplained within his life just lately that this was just another to add to the list of unsolved mysteries.
”Who was it?” Erestor sensing that Glorfindel was in no shape to ask the question, jumped in quickly to demand an answer from Keeldon.
“Last night someone came to visit me, interrupted my bonding session with my precious over there, telling me it was urgent.” Both Glorfindel and Erestor flinched at the evil smile that graced Keeldon’s lips when he spoke of the ‘bonding session’ and instantly both elves knew what had happened. It made them sick to the stomach and both felt their sympathy for the young prince increase again. Legolas lay still on the floor his shallow breathing punctuated by occasional coughing, and while it was a bad situation, the small sickly signs of life comforted Erestor that the prince was still alive.
“Who was it?” Erestor continued to press the question even as Keeldon tapped out his pipe onto the floor crushing the glowing embers out with his bear foot. Keeldon continued ignoring Erestor’s demanding for a straight answer as he crossed his arms over his chest and turned his attention to directly focus on the two Imaldris elves seated at the table.
“Now what I want to know is just exactly who my elf is? And why so many people, seem so willing to give up their lives to see him set free?” Erestor was infuriated by Keeldon’s refusal to answer his question and the usually calm resolve of the advisor instantly cracked.
“WHO WAS IT!?” Erestor’s voice echoed around the hall startling all the occupants who had not expected such an outburst from the dark haired advisor. Slamming his fists down onto the table Erestor was surprised by his own strength as all the goblets fell over and rolled onto the floor with the force of the impact. Keeldon looked startled at Erestor as did Glorfindel positive he had never seen his friend so agitated before. Erestor was breathing coarsely in anger through his nose and mouth, the sound echoing in the now silent hall. “Tell me who was it that came to you last night with the offer of his freedom?” Erestor pointed rudely at Legolas his eyes never leaving Keeldon’s as he stared at the man like he was the worst orc in the whole of middle earth. Keeldon went to open his mouth to reply but before he could another voice answered the question.
“It was me, I made the offer for his freedom.” Glorfindel could only manage to open and close his mouth like a starving fish as he stared at the familiar robe figure that appeared from the servant’s entry of the hall. Erestor felt as if his world had just tilted on his axis and that he was being hung upside down by the ankles. His heart was in his throat and his mind had deserted him for the grey havens at the mere thought of trying to now unravel this puzzle.
“Lord Celeborn?” The words seemed to flow like a mantra for Erestor’s lips. His mouth seeking confirmation for the perceived deception of his eyes. The slow nod of the blond haired lords head was the only confirmation Erestor needed. To stunned to do anything Erestor simply closed his eyes, tilted his head towards the ceiling and cursed loudly in elvish, suddenly just as frustrated as Glorfindel had been only a few days back on the Lothlorien boarder.
TBC>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
(A/N) *Wails excitedly* I soooooooo know you didn't see that coming and believe me it gets better! *Dances around* I love it when I get so wrapped up in a story line I don't stop typing until 2.00am in the morning! Be assured the best bits are still to come.
Glorfindel was frozen to the spot unable to comprehend what was happening before the familiar figure of an elf was thrown into the middle of the hall floor. Keeldon’s laughter echoed maliciously around the all but empty hall, and only the frightened scared sobs of the young elf could be heard above the laughter. Erestor could hardly breath his lungs contracting in horror at what the young prince of Mirkwood looked like. Never had he witnessed such a defiling of beauty, the prince’s features lost in a sunken world of bruises and blood. It was if the world had slowed to a dove’s pace as Glorfindel watched the young prince stand up from the floor on shaky legs. The prince was almost unrecognisable the bruises and blood strained face and Glorfindel felt his own blood begin to trickle from his hand at where his fists were so tightly clenched. The green frightened gaze of Legolas met with Glorfindel’s across the hall and it was in that moment that Glorfindel felt his heart crack.
“Glorfindel!” Legolas’ screamed the elf lord’s name having singled him out from the people in the room. The prince’s voice was raspy and coarse but nothing prepared Glorfindel for the sickening sight as the young elf tried to run towards him in desperation. As if an anvil had struck Legolas the young elf was brutally pulled backwards by the guard, the sickening snap of the tightening of leather the only sound in the hall before Legolas’ body hit the stone floor with a dull thud and a scream of pain. Without thinking Glorfindel turned to face Keeldon who was still lounging back in his breakfast chair his pipe hanging from the side of his mouth and a sick delighted grin spread across his face.
“Oh how touching, you know one another already.” Glorfindel had already unsheathed his sword and was ready to cut the man’s head off when Erestor grabbed his arm and stayed his friends’ rash move. Two elves against ten and possibly a whole city full of angry men was a doomed combination and Erestor was willing to bet that negotiations rather than fighting would more likely see a reasonable outcome. Keeldon was too calm to have not seen this coming and that alone made Erestor curious of what was going on.
“Let him roll over onto his front, he is choking can’t you see?” Glorfindel went to move towards where the guard was holding Legolas down on his back on the floor but Keeldon was instantly on his feet a hidden sword being drawn from beneath the table as the red haired man moved around to prevent the seneschal from going anywhere. Legolas’ chocked sobs and gasps for breath tore at Glorfindel’s soul and he longed to go over to the prince and hold him in comfort.
“Do not move or I will run you through like an orc.” Glorfindel froze where he was his eyes never leaving the frail struggling body of Legolas as it writhed around in agony on the stone floor.
“Yastire, let him go.” Calling over his shoulder at the guard Keeldon watched as the guard dropped the leather strap and removed his foot from Legolas’ chest allowing the young elf to roll over and begin taking in air again.
“What is your price for his release? Name it and we will pay it?” Erestor’s calm tone took Glorfindel totally by surprise and while he did not take his gaze off Legolas he did however allow Erestor to lead him back over to the table were Keeldon had once again sat himself down. Erestor’s negotiating skills would for once come in handy on this particular trip. Keeldon laughed blatantly in Erestor’s face at the bold declaration from the dark haired elf.
“What if I say he isn’t for sale?” Erestor swallowed hard, that hadn’t been the answer he’d been expecting. Turning to Glorfindel for guidance the advisor watched as his friend turned calmly away from watching Legolas to glare pointedly at Keeldon. Since Legolas had first been brought into the room Erestor saw the warriors cunning strategy return to Glorfindel’s gaze and it was a comforting look. While Glorfindel had initially been blinded by his horror at seeing Legolas in this state the seneschal had returned once again with his determination and fighting spirit in order to challenge Keeldon.
“What is it that you know?” Glorfindel’s voice was low and unnervingly calm as he addressed Keeldon. Erestor had never heard Glorfindel speak with such conviction before and it was a little confronting. Keeldon took a sip of wine from his goblet, lounging back in his chair and crossing his legs in a smug mocking fashion.
“It is not a point of what I know my dear Glorfindel of Gondolin but more a matter of what I don’t know.” Erestor frowned confused by Keeldon’s riddle but it seemed Glorfindel was not. The seneschal watched as Keeldon removed a letter from under the cloth of the table and proceeded to unfold it, deliberately stringing it out as the silence between them continued. “What I do know is that my precious beauty over there is a very popular young elf indeed? For you are not the first to have offered me anything for his release. Someone else has already done that.” Keeldon smiled knowingly at Glorfindel who sat dumb founded but not wholly unsurprised by the turn of events. So many things had gone unexplained within his life just lately that this was just another to add to the list of unsolved mysteries.
”Who was it?” Erestor sensing that Glorfindel was in no shape to ask the question, jumped in quickly to demand an answer from Keeldon.
“Last night someone came to visit me, interrupted my bonding session with my precious over there, telling me it was urgent.” Both Glorfindel and Erestor flinched at the evil smile that graced Keeldon’s lips when he spoke of the ‘bonding session’ and instantly both elves knew what had happened. It made them sick to the stomach and both felt their sympathy for the young prince increase again. Legolas lay still on the floor his shallow breathing punctuated by occasional coughing, and while it was a bad situation, the small sickly signs of life comforted Erestor that the prince was still alive.
“Who was it?” Erestor continued to press the question even as Keeldon tapped out his pipe onto the floor crushing the glowing embers out with his bear foot. Keeldon continued ignoring Erestor’s demanding for a straight answer as he crossed his arms over his chest and turned his attention to directly focus on the two Imaldris elves seated at the table.
“Now what I want to know is just exactly who my elf is? And why so many people, seem so willing to give up their lives to see him set free?” Erestor was infuriated by Keeldon’s refusal to answer his question and the usually calm resolve of the advisor instantly cracked.
“WHO WAS IT!?” Erestor’s voice echoed around the hall startling all the occupants who had not expected such an outburst from the dark haired advisor. Slamming his fists down onto the table Erestor was surprised by his own strength as all the goblets fell over and rolled onto the floor with the force of the impact. Keeldon looked startled at Erestor as did Glorfindel positive he had never seen his friend so agitated before. Erestor was breathing coarsely in anger through his nose and mouth, the sound echoing in the now silent hall. “Tell me who was it that came to you last night with the offer of his freedom?” Erestor pointed rudely at Legolas his eyes never leaving Keeldon’s as he stared at the man like he was the worst orc in the whole of middle earth. Keeldon went to open his mouth to reply but before he could another voice answered the question.
“It was me, I made the offer for his freedom.” Glorfindel could only manage to open and close his mouth like a starving fish as he stared at the familiar robe figure that appeared from the servant’s entry of the hall. Erestor felt as if his world had just tilted on his axis and that he was being hung upside down by the ankles. His heart was in his throat and his mind had deserted him for the grey havens at the mere thought of trying to now unravel this puzzle.
“Lord Celeborn?” The words seemed to flow like a mantra for Erestor’s lips. His mouth seeking confirmation for the perceived deception of his eyes. The slow nod of the blond haired lords head was the only confirmation Erestor needed. To stunned to do anything Erestor simply closed his eyes, tilted his head towards the ceiling and cursed loudly in elvish, suddenly just as frustrated as Glorfindel had been only a few days back on the Lothlorien boarder.
TBC>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
(A/N) *Wails excitedly* I soooooooo know you didn't see that coming and believe me it gets better! *Dances around* I love it when I get so wrapped up in a story line I don't stop typing until 2.00am in the morning! Be assured the best bits are still to come.