Tears of the Valar

Disclaimer/Author's Notes: I own nothing but the Original Characters and their adventures. Everything else belongs to JRR Tolkien, the Tolkien Estate, New Line Cinema/Peter Jackson, et. al. This was done purely for entertainment and as an exercise in creativity.
~~~~~~~~~~

“How far to Fwaban?” Haldir asked Crasthion as they rode swiftly and without rest.

“We should be there within three days,” the mortal replied. Without moving an army, they could go straight through shortcuts and passes and did not need to go slow. Every step brought him closer to his death, but the man felt oddly serene. It mattered not what happened to him as long as he could save the innocent members of his house.

“Do you still feel Alexandra?” Elladan asked Legolas softly. He wished he could feel Allase, but they had only joined their bodies, not their hearts—at least, not yet.

Legolas smiled grimly. “Indeed I do and she is quite angry. She will let no harm come to your lady if it is at all within her power to prevent it.”

Elladan nodded. “I know. I should have … If only they had stayed in the caves like they were told!”

Haldir sniffed disdainfully. “Alexandra could no more stay hidden than you or I,” he told the distraught Noldo. “She knew there was a battle and that there would be many who may be injured or killed. She certainly would not let her husband fight when she could help him. And from what I have seen of the lovely Allase, she is the same. She would do all she could to help the injured, something she could not do while hidden in a cave.”

“I fear you are correct,” Elladan sighed. “I simply feel … helpless, responsible for their abduction.”

“Only Lastharos and his evil company are to blame for anything that has befallen any of us,” Rumil interjected. “I hope to give him a most painful and drawn-out death.”

Crasthion listened to the Elves talk and mentally shook his head. Lastharos could not be killed. Many had tried over the more than seven-thousand years the Ruler had sat upon the seat of power in Khand. Always, something intervened.

They fell silent as they rode to the southeast toward the one who had brought so much pain to so many,

***

They had not seen their host since the afternoon he had received the message that had seemed so disturbing. The palace had become quite tense and Dehlina reported hearing some of the slaves whispering about a possible insurrection in the army.

“Let us hope the rumors are true,” Naveradir commented.

He, Dehlina and Orophin had taken to exploring the darker reaches of the palace on the excuse that they were enjoying the various torture chambers and implements at their disposal. The guards, accustomed to such diversions from Lastharos and his ilk, paid them no heed.

Rather than dallying with various painful pleasures, however, they were actually mapping out the vast palace, learning the hiding places and exits, passageways and hidden stairways so they could move about the palace undetected.

They made several rather gruesome discoveries in the course of their wanderings. Some prisoners or slaves had apparently been left to rot in the dark cells. They even came across a large room where rotting corpses looked to have been buried up to their necks and left to starve.

“Such a fate would be ideal for Lastharos,” Orophin murmured.

“Indeed,” Naveradir agreed. “To leave him to rot, alone and forgotten … he would find that a fate worse than death.”

“Personally, I wish to gouge out his eyes and rip off his cock,” Dehlina said. “Then, I don’t care what anyone does with him.”

They found another hidden passageway leading to a set of stairs. Climbing, they found themselves on the other side of a wood and metal screen high in what had to be the tallest tower of the palace. Several guards were on the opposite side of the screen and appeared to be guarding an ornate door with several bolts.

The Elves fell silent as they listened to the conversation.

“I do not know why the Ruler insists on keeping them shut away,” one of the guards was saying. “But he has forbidden any to speak with them or even look upon them.”

“I heard,” said another guard, “they were brought in by the only survivors of the Dark Force that was sent to Rhun. You think maybe one of these women is this new sun we keep hearing so much about?”

The sound of general laughter followed and a different voice replied, “I do not think any woman can unseat the Leader. I heard they were quite lovely; maybe they’re Elves too and he plans to breed them with that blonde one the Rhunian brought.”

“No, one of them is definitely of Khand or Rhun,” the first voice interjected. “She is no Elf. We do not have Elves in Khand.”

They had apparently been changing the guard as several of the men left, leaving only two on either side of the door. Orophin and Naveradir exchanged glances. Apparently Lastharos had prisoners from the battle.

***

Kidur trotted into the cave and once again sat before Maglor and barked once. His soft brown eyes looked at Sui with interest and she tentatively held out her hand. After Maglor took the message from the dog’s collar, the large animal walked over to where the woman knelt, his tail wagging with easy good humor.

Rubbing her hand over the dog’s large head, Sui smiled and began to gently massage the beast’s shoulders, neck, back and sides. Kidur sank down against her, his head resting on her shoulder, grunting and moaning with sheer delight. Sui buried her face in the dog’s fur and felt like a child once again.

Erestor watched them with a smile then turned to Maglor.

“What is the message?”

“Two female prisoners brought in by the creatures that had gone out with the army. The guards think one of them an elleth, the other is an eastern woman. They are apparently being guarded in chambers, not in the dungeons.”

Erestor frowned. “Why do they rate special treatment?”

“They are likely valuable,” Sui commented. “Lastharos may be holding them hostage to negotiate with someone.”

Maglor nodded in agreement. “It is a likely scenario. I will see what the others who watch say.”

Erestor did not know who else watched in the silent mountains surrounding the capital of Khand, but Maglor received messages of comings and goings. Nothing happened around Fwaban the son of Feanor did not know about.

After Maglor departed to do reconnaissance, Erestor sat next to Sui and Kidur, stroking the animal’s side. The dog rolled onto his back, exposing his fuzzy belly to their hands, his eyes half closed, his tongue hanging out of one side of his mouth, in absolute ecstasy.

“Do you have dogs in your land?” Sui asked the beautiful black-haired Elf.

He nodded and smiled. “Yes. Alexandra and Legolas have two spaniels, small dogs, who completely run their household. Several others of my kin have dogs as well. They are marvelous companions.”

“Who are Alexandra and Legolas?” she asked. “Are they your siblings?”

“No,” he replied with a chuckle. “Legolas is an Elf, the son of the King of the Elves of Northern Eryn Lasgalen, and Alexandra is his mortal wife.”

“Elves and mortals marry?” She was amazed.

“Yes though we do not do it often. The Elves of Rhun, however, have bred with mortals for millennia. My people have done so very rarely.”

She looked down at the dog for a moment then returned her gaze to the handsome Elf.

“What of you? Have you ever wed a mortal?”

Erestor shook his head with a soft chuckle.

“No. I only recently wed an elleth of Rhun just over a year ago. We have been apart almost as long as we have been together. She wished to come on this journey with us, but I did not wish her to be in danger, especially with Lastharos seeking Elves. What he did to me, I can endure; but if he were to even look at my wife …” His midnight blue eyes grew even darker as he contemplated various fates for the Butcher of Khand.

“I hope you are soon back in the arms of your wife,” Sui told him with a small smile.

“Thank you. I also long to hold her again. She saved me from encroaching despair and I realized what had been missing in my life.”

They fell silent as their ministrations lulled the large dog into a pleasant stupor.

***

The door to their prison swung open slowly and Alexandra and Allase both slid from the bed to the opposite side of the room from the door. Alex clutched the skewers in one hand, ready to kill whoever walked through if necessary.

The first to enter the room was one of the large vampires; tall, gray-skinned, with a crown of horns growing from its head and great wings furled behind it. Its unclothed body was hard and muscular with feet and hands that ended in long, sharp claws. It was quite obviously male and its member, even limp, was long and thick, covered with what appeared to be small hooked horns along its length and around it, curved so that insertion might be easy, but withdrawal would tear whatever opening it had plumbed.

Allase inhaled sharply and squeezed Alexandra’s arm at the sight of the beast, its vivid green eyes shining, the pupils simply vertical slits. The creature seemed to sense her fear and grinned, baring a mouth full of needle-like teeth, long and sharp.

Another of the vampires followed its fellow and then an impossibly beautiful man stepped into the room. He regarded the women speculatively for a moment as the second Vampire closed the door.

Alexandra resisted the urge to attack him immediately, but met his gaze evenly. He may be immortal and insane, but he was still just a man.

“I remember you well, princess,” he finally said, giving Alexandra a smile that, had she not known him, would have made her knees weak. Good grief! He was unearthly in his beauty and she could understand why some believed he had Maia or Elven blood.

Lastharos’ gaze settled on Allase and he seemed to examine her closely.

“I do not know you, but you appear familiar. Who are your parents?” His tone was imperious. She was, after all, one of his subjects.

“My mother died in childbirth and my father in your service,” Allase replied. “I was raised by a cousin of my mother in his household in Naraketh. I am no one of importance.” Try as she might, Allase could not help the awe with which she regarded Lastharos. It had been ingrained into everyone in Khand that the Leader was their Vala and she forced herself to remain calm in his presence. Like Alexandra she found him almost painfully beautiful and could understand how many could be seduced by him.

The Khandun walked over and before Alexandra could react, had pulled Allase from her side and examined the other woman closely. With a small wave of a finger he summoned the vampires who flew impossibly fast across the room, snatching the skewers from her hand and holding her in place.

“Don’t touch her,” Alex spat though she knew he would do so just to irritate her.

Lastharos glanced at the Elf’s wife with a slight smile. “She is a citizen of my realm; I own her and everyone in Khand. I will touch her as much as and in any way I desire.” As if to prove his point he slipped his hand inside of Allase’s slight silken gown and squeezed her breast, pinching the nipple hard before letting go.

The Khandun woman gasped—none had ever touched her so. Elladan had been gentle and passionate, not cruel.

“You have Rhunian blood,” Lastharos murmured, almost to himself as he studied Allase’s exquisite features. “My servants tell me you have the smell of Elf on you. I expect it from Princess Alexandra; she is wed to an Elf. Do you have an Elven mate as well?”

“I—I have not been so blessed,” Allase managed to answer. She did not know what to say. What would be the right thing? How much should she let Lastharos know?

He nodded slowly. “So you are simply an Elf’s whore. How wonderful for you; and how fortunate I happen to have an Elf here. He is fair and beautiful with hair of silver and gold. It will be quite entertaining to see him join with one whose flesh is golden and whose hair is black as midnight. The woman he currently serves is darker than you, but she is married and I would not take her without her husband’s consent—he is useful to me. You, however … I can have him use you then I can taste him once your body has been filled by him.”

Allase stared at the man in horror. He meant to have an Elf rape her? Impossible.

When he mentioned the fair Elf, Alex knew it had to be Orophin. Naveradir and Erestor were both dark-haired. She wondered what woman Orophin ‘served’. What had her friends gotten into?

Seeing the look on Allase’s face, Alex knew the woman was stunned. She had been a virgin before Elladan and had no other experience with men or Elves.

“Why her? I’m accustomed to laying with Elves,” Alex pointed out.

“Indeed you are,” Lastharos replied with a slight laugh. “Still, you are wed to an Elven prince and I would not risk damaging you too much. You are a useful tool for controlling him and the others of his kind. This one, however …” Again he pinched one of Allase’s nipples. “She is merely a whore and a slave to be used as I see fit.”

“No, she is not,” Alex replied through gritted teeth. “If you damage her, you will have more than simply my husband and his people to deal with. She’s very highly placed in Elven society and her mate would bring down the wrath of more than one kingdom upon you.” She had no idea what she was saying, but whatever it was, it was true. Elladan and Elrohir had friends in some of the wilder parts of Middle-Earth who would fight for him if he found his beloved had been wronged.

Lastharos turned his gaze back to the Khandun woman in his grasp. “We shall see,” he finally said, letting her go. Turning, he started out of the room though he paused at the door and turned back to the two women.

“You will dine with me tonight. We will see if laying with Elves has made you strong.” He vanished out the door and the vampires leapt from the balcony, taking flight toward another section of the palace.

Alexandra caught Allase as the other woman’s legs gave way.

“Here,” she told the trembling Khandun, “Sit on the bed and take some deep breaths. Did he damage you?” She pulled the thin strap of the woman’s gown down over her shoulder and examined the breast Lastharos had brutalized. The nipple was an angry red and the print of his hand where it had bruised the fair, golden flesh was vivid. Alex muttered a curse. If Elladan saw it …

Allase closed her eyes then suddenly gagged. Alex picked up a bowl as the other woman emptied what little was in her stomach then found a cool cloth for Allase’s forehead before flinging the bowl and its contents out the window. She hoped Lastharos was walking by down below and was covered with the puke and hit in the head by the vessel.

“I have never … no one has ever t-touched me like that,” Allase gasped.

“I’m sorry,” Alex said sincerely. “I’ve been handled roughly before and it still pisses me off. If this Elf Lastharos spoke of is who I think it is, you need have no worry about him hurting you.”

Allase nodded then closed her eyes as Alex gently pushed her back onto the bed and pulled one of the silk coverlets over her.

“Rest,” Legolas’ wife told the Khandun woman. “I’m going to see what else we can use as weapons.” She began searching through the cabinets, chests and baskets in the room, eventually finding more skewers and several very painful looking metal dildos. A small smile touched her lips as she pictured using them on a bound and naked Lastharos. Let everyone in Khand see the man could bleed; and if he bled enough, he’d die.

***

Warmth surrounded him; the salty scent of the sea tickled his nose and the gentle rise and fall of waves rocked him like an elfling. He opened his eyes and saw a beautiful blue sky above him and smiled. The breeze was gentle and Helcarin thought how he had never felt so safe and peaceful.

He turned and met the smiling green eyes of the elleth in his arms, her body wrapped around his—it was from her the warmth emanated. Lifting a lock of her glossy black hair, he wrapped it around his finger, bringing it to his lips to kiss.

“I have missed you terribly every moment that has passed,” he told her.

She laughed softly and propped herself on her elbow and looked down into his midnight blue eyes.

“I have missed you as well, my love; but we will be together in Aman. It is so peaceful here and I am learning so much.”

She did look happy and serene and somehow seemed … softer than she had in Middle-Earth. Her hair was unbound and fell in soft waves, spilling over his chest. Her gown was a lightweight, pale green silk that was gathered at the shoulders with long open split sleeves. The fabric draped her body in a way that was elegant and not provocative.

He reached up, tracing the line of her jaw with his fingertip.

“Am I not going to Mandos?”

“Not yet. It is not your time Helcarin. You must go to the water.”

“I drank from the waters at Cuivienen,” he told her with a frown.

“Yes. But the lake … You must go to the lake.”

He sighed and she pulled him back into her arms where he rested his head on her breast. She stroked his hair as he nestled against her.

“But I wish to remain with you. We did not have any time together. I was not even there when you passed. You were already gone by the time I reached you.”

“Hush, my love. I told them to pull out the sword. I did not wish for you to see me as I was. I knew you loved me; just as I know you love me now.”

“We have never said those words,” Helcarin murmured as he inhaled her scent.

“We have never needed to,” she replied.

“True,” he laughed, then looked up into her calm gaze. “But I do love you, Pomea.”

“I know,” she answered, “And I love you, Helcarin.”

They lay quietly together and he vaguely noticed they were in a boat. It was not large, but had room for the pillows and cushions on which they reclined comfortably. The waves were rhythmic and Helcarin wished he could stay with her forever.

“What of my father? Did Lastharos kill him?”

“He is not in Mandos’ Halls,” she replied. “Cunion is beginning to heal, but no more of our friends are here.”

Helcarin sighed with relief. He did not wish to lose either of his fathers but Erestor had only recently wed Durisia and he liked seeing him happy.

“You must go to the water,” she told him again.

“Why?”

“The waters share the same source as Cuivienen. It flows and joins with other waters until it reaches the lake.”

Helcarin sighed again and sat up, looking across the surface of the water. He could see no shore in any direction and thought how nice it would be to simply float along the currents with his beloved Pomea. Still, he knew she spoke the truth. It was not his time.

Long, slender arms wrapped around his shoulders and he felt her breath warm against his ear.

“I will always be with you, my love; and when you come to the Blessed Realm, I will be the first to greet you.”

He turned and slipped his arms around her waist and pulled her close then kissed her hungrily. She returned his kiss then, when it ended, smiled.

“I love you, Helcarin.”

“I love you, Pomea.” He stood and took a deep breath then stepped over the side of the boat into the water.