The Jewel of Mirkwood

Chapter 67

Lord Elrond stood stoically at the steps to the entrance of his home. Elrohir and Erestor stood protectively at his side their bows drawn and arrows poised towards the archway into the courtyard in front of them. All around them soldiers lined the defensive walls a deathly silence having descended upon the entire valley. It had come as a shock to receive the message from the enemy. In their possession they held the lives of most of the patrol force that had left the day before as well as the bodies of those who had not made it through the night. They had sent word with Elrond’s own messenger that they wanted to meet and talk with Elrond and his councillors. Elrond had had little choice but to accept the offer, still unsure of whom he was dealing with. Apart from Glorfindel, his eldest son Elladan were among the captives and Elrond couldn’t risk his son’s life with foolishness. All the same there were to be no liberties taken so all soldiers throughout the realm had been put on alert ready to slay the enemy party if Elrond gave the word.

Now however after the troops had been assembled and plans hatched the whole of Imladris was waiting their arrival with fear and worry.

It did not take long until the first of the riders entered the courtyard. The solider up front was hidden behind a thick black cloak, his face hidden but his weapons clearly visible. Without a doubt these were elves and although nothing was said everyone knew the fate for traitors of their own kind. Behind the first rider entered several more hidden figures that were leading a procession of horses each of them carrying their dead masters.

“May the valar protect their souls.” Everyone in the courtyard fell deathly silent, their heads bowed in sorrow as ten horses and their dead riders were lead into the yard. Elrond heard his youngest son’s whispered prayer but ignored it and continued to glare at the party that followed the dead. The dead riders had made a statement and given a very clear message to all those witnessing it. Still Elrond was not going to be intimidated and merely stood his hands folded behind his back as he watched the next party move into the courtyard. Again more of the hooded soldiers entered the courtyard the number of them growing with each person through the arched entrance way. This time however the soldiers were herding the main group of the patrol between them. All of the patrol hadn stn stripped of their weaponry, their shirts were missing and all of them, to Elrond’s utter horror had, had their golden hair sheered off at their necks. Elrond heard some gasps from around the courtyard but again stood as still as he could staring sympathetically at the members of the patrol who looked up at him fearfully. Finally after more of the black riders had entered the compound and taken strategic positions around their group four final horses entered the arch.

Two of the four made their way through the group and came to a stop in front of Elrond. Upon one of the horses sat a darkened figure and in front of him lay an unconscious Elladan. Elrond was a little concerned at how pale his son looked but took comfort in seeing the rise and fallEllaElladan’s chest indicating that he was still alive. The other horse however held a much worse sight. While the same hooded figure sat astride his horse, in front of him sat the battered bloodied body of Glorfindel. The seneschal was a mess his face barely recognisable below he blood and bruises. A severe wound on his right shoulder still wept profusely with blood and from the amount of it splattered on his chest and back Elrond knew the seneschal host ost a lot of blood. Glorfindel’s breathing was shallow too, and his gaze was fixed firmly on an imaginary point in front of him unresponsive to anything around him. Elrond felt his anger boil inside of him but a calm, supporting hand of Erestor on his shoulder stayed his tongue and kept his composure.

“What do you want?” Elrond’s tone was flat and barely hiding the Lord’s distain for his enemy. From his position he still could not make out who or what the hooded figures were but wasn’t taking any pleasantries to find out. The rider sitting behind Glorfindel snorted indignantly and stroked his fingers down Glorfindel’s back possessively. It was a gesture that again meant something more than what it was and Elrond heard the message loud and clear.

“It is a fine afternoon to you too Lord Elrond Half Elvan.” Elrond did not recognise the male voice that addressed him although it was strange to here someone speaking entirely in Quenya now days. The only person he’d ever heard speaking an entire conversation in Quenya was Glorfindel and he rarely did so now, after the war. “You have done so well for yourself after the fall of your own King.” Elrond swallowed nervously as the figure referred so easily to the loss of the last high king Gil-galad.

“I ask again, state your name and your purpose here then be on your way. We do not negotiate with the unknown.” Elrond’s patient was wearing a little thin as again the figure chuckled this time possessively pulling Glorfindel back against his chest and fingering the sapphire blue pendant hanging loosely around Glorfindel’s neck.

“May I be so blunt Lord Elrond, but you do not have a choice in this matter. You will negotiate or you will die trying to fight us, it is that simple.” Elrond panicked a little as he watched the hooded figure who was sitting behind Elladan pull the unconscious elf to a seated position by his hair before flipping a dagger out of his cloak and pressing it to the defenceless elf’s throat. Elrond cried out in dismay momenta loo loosing his composure as he saw a thin trickle of blood drip from the knife’s edge where it had just nicked Elladan’s skin. Erestor was too quick however and hastily pushed Lord Elrond behind him in protection before assuming himself in charge. Elrond was in no condition to negotiate at present and having Glorfindel indisposed the responsibility of looking after the issue fell firmly into Erestor’s lap.

“You give us no choice then. Perhaps if we were to learn your name we would not be so resisting in accepting this agreement.” Erestor had always been a diplomat at heart and while he had skill in the battlefield his best asset as Glorfindel had pointed out during their quest to rescue Legolas was Erestor ability to negotiate and line up his opponents.

“My name is not important but I will give it in time. For now I want your soldiers to back down before being escorted to a room in which I might refresh myself before we begin our discuss? Is? I expect that my soldiers too will be treated to a meal and be comfortably provided for.” Erestor bit his tongue at the preposterous nature of the figures demand. However Erestor knew that to refuse was to put everyone’s life at risk so carefully turned the situation in his favour.

“And in exchange for providing this request, what do you offer us in return?” The figure chuckled and shook his head again, annoying Erestor a little more at the presumptuous, self-confident bebefobefore him.

“You are just as your reputation perceives you Lord Erestor, yet no less handsome than those who had bedded you can testify.” Erestor gritted his teeth determinedly his hands clenching around the arch of his bow as the figure carelessly waved his hand towards where the captured patrol were standing and the dead were with their horses. “You can have them back, they are no use to me anymore and I doubt will be any use to you either.” The sick laughter of the hooded figure rang out around the courtyard. The figure had cruelly cut the patrol’s hair for no other reason but to crush their self worth knowing full well that an elf’s hair is the most sacred part of them, and attributed to their outer glow and inner light. Despite this Erestor nodded cautiously and gestured to Eladdan and Glorfindel.

“What about them? Does this exchange include them?” Again the figure laughed menacingly and shook his head, again pulling Glorfindel’s passively limp body possessively to his chest.

”Do you think me a fool Lord Erestor?” Erestor was tempted to answer that particular question but held his tongue. “No, Our agreement does not include your friends here. I will allow them medical treatment but that is all, they will stay with me at all times and I suggest you do not attempt to rescue them. They will be returned to you when I have what I came for. Now do we have a deal?” For a moment Erestor had a second thought about agreeing to this but in truth there was no way they could refuse. Glancing back over his shoulder he saw Elrond look up from where he’d crouched down on the steps still a little shaken from seeing his son’s life balancing on the edge of a knife. Despite it though Elrond had listened to the conversation and with a nod of his head indicated to Erestor that he was to accept.

“Yes, release them and you will be shown to your room.” Erestor heard the figure grunt his satisfaction before he turned back slightly to his followers and spoke quickly in Quenya to them. Obediently the cloaked figures stepped back from their captives and allowed them to leave freely. As predicted all those captured ran straight for the walls where their fellow soldiers greeted them and brought them to safety inside the guard huts. So to, the horses of the dead were led quickly away to the stables their riders to be sent immediately to their state of rest and their families. Once the captives had been led to safety Erestor indicated to the centurion to pull his troops back and obediently the soldiers stood down although all of them still remained at their posts in case they were needed.

“I do believe we can negotiate this agreement peacefully after all. You are not as heavy handed as some I have met in my time.” Erestor watched cautiously as all of the riders dismounted at their leaders command and waited to the led to their respective places of rest. Elrohir stepped up closer to Erestor and his father as the figure who’d been sitting with Glorfindel pushed back his hood and helped Glorfindel to the ground. None of them recognised the elf now revealed to them but from his golden hair he was clearly of wood elf breeding. Erestor was more shocked however to see Glorfindel passively complying to anything the mriourious elf told him to do. It was certainly out of character for Glorfindel not to put up a fight but something in the elf’s pallor and his distant gaze told Erestor all was not well with his friend.

“That will depend on what it is that you want.” Erestor stepped aside as the elf and his comrade were led up the stairs by Lord Elrond and his youngest son. The captives were held fast against their bodies as to limit attempt at escape. Not that Elladan or Glorfindel were in any shape to escape anyway. The blonde nameless elf shook his head at Erestor in amusement, the smug smile that Erestor had imaged being there previously now blatantly clear for everyone to see.

”I think you know what I want Lord Erestor, doesn’t everybody?” Erestor shivered as he followed the party up into these sse silently thanking the valar that Glorfindel had secured Legolas and Filgree’s safety before he’d left. Still the next few days would be tough and Erestor was determined to see Glorfindel free and the traitors to their kin dead and out of trouble. Legolas was Glorfindel’s a no one was going to prevent them being together, especially if Erestor could prevent it.

TBC>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>