Taelin's Story

Disclaimer: Taelin and all other original characters belong to me. Some elements borrowed from Tolkien, but I make no profit from them. Only the smile I can bring to someone's face.

Morning dawned, bright and warm. The birds sang softly in the trees around the small family talan. The next few weeks promised new experiences, and much excitement, for the young who woke and happily greeted the morning. In a few days time, he would have his first experiences with the world of men.

Rushing excitedly around his room, Taelin dressed in his finest clothes. A royal blue silk tunic, black leggings, and jerkin of very rich black velvet that was embroidered with delicate silver leaves. The entire outfit had been a gift from his parents, on the day he had reached the age of majority. He had fallen in love with the clothes as soon as he’d seen them. Looking in the mirror, now, he saw a young elf who looked like a prince, rather than the son of a simple tailor.

Still looking in the mirror, the young elf sat on the edge of his bed and began braiding intricate plaits into his silken blonde hair. Taelin loved the way that the dark colors of his new clothes made his crystal blue eyes seem to sparkle. He was sure that he would be the center of attention, once his family reached the new town.

His father had decided to move the family to the small town of men that was located on the edge of Lothlorien. Once there, he hoped to open a shop and finish training Taelin in the art of tailoring.

Taelin ran into the main room of the talan. He was so excited about moving. It was like a new adventure, the beginning of a new life. Looking around the modest talan, happy memories of his long childhood washed over him. His parents loved him, and had given him the best life they could.

“Are you ready to go, ion-nin?” his father asked from behind him, smiling to see hin prn proudly wearing the clothes they had given him.

“I am, Ada. Though I will miss living here.” Taelin spoke softly, trying to hold in the threatening tears.

His father embraced him warmly. “I know, penneth. We will make a new life, you’ll see. It will be better, and we will be happier than ever before.”

With his father’s words still ringing in his head, Taelin climbed down the ladder of his childhood home, for the last time. Silent tears slid down his face as he climbed into the back of the family wagon, knowing that he was on his way to a new and better life.

~~~***~~~

One week into their journey, the family stopped to make camp for the night. They had found a perfect spot in a small clearing, near a slow moving river. They would reach their new home the following day.

“Taelin, would you go down to the river and get some water for dinner? Your Nana and I shall prepare camp.” His father smiled warmly.

“Alright, Ada! I’ll be quick.”

Taelin hurried to the river. It was getting dark, and he knew it wasn’t wise to be alone in the woods at that time. Even though he had a small dagger hidden within his left boot, he didn’t feel safe on his own. He had never used the dagger, and silently prayed to the Valar that he would never have to. After filling the small pot with water, he turned quickly to return to his parents.

Approaching the camp, sounds started registering to him. Voices. A discussion? No, an argument. Straining to hear better, Taelin walked silently, trying his best not to be seen. Crouching in the bushes, he peered into the small clearing.

His parents were surrounded by large orcs. They had been ambushed. His father was cornered by the wagon, and being held captive by four of the foul beasts. His father was fighting them with all his might, though without a weapon, and against four adversaries, he had little chance of victory.

A shallow and pained scream filled the air. Afraid of what he might see, Taelin then searched the clearing, with his eyes, for his mother. His knees nearly collapsed when he finally he saw her. She lay upon the ground, with an orc holding both her hands, restraining her. Her head lay to one side, and she was bleeding from a large head wound. Another orc was straddling her hips.

/That beast is forcing itself upon her!\

He was about to attack, in attempt to save his mother, when their eyes met. She seemed to be silently pleading with him to run. To flee. Could he do that? Could he really abandon his parents to save himself?

Before he could make up his mind, some of the orcs noticed his mother’s stare. Deciding to search for the object of her interest, they began advancing on his position. The choice was made for him. He had to flee.

With the icy fingers of terror gripping his heart, he flew through the trees, using all his speed. Refusing to look back, until he could no longer hear the heavy footfalls of his pursuers. Scaling a large tree, he sat hud in in its branches.

Wave after wave of terrifying shudders coursed through him, as his entworlworld came crashing down around him. No longer could he dream of a happy life, with his parents by his side. He knew by morning, the two beings that had given him life would be no more. Sitting in the tree, shivering, and crying like an elfling, he felt as though he were a coward. He would never forgive himself for not trying to save his parents, even though he knew he would have lost his own life in the attempt.

The night was very quiet, except for the sounds emanating from the ransacking of the camp. Taelin listened to the orcs shouting at each other, though he couldn’t understand what they were saying. He could hear his father’s pained yells at having to watch his bonded wife so abused.

As time passed, and morning was dawning, the screams that filled the air began to die away. The young elf squeezed his eyes shut and cried harder than he’d ever cried before. He knew he was not yet safe, and still had to hide from the orcs in the camp, though he wished he could return. He longed to spend whatever time his parents had left with them.

When the sun rose, and silence fell over the small valley, Taelin slowly climbed down from his hiding spot. He knew the orcs would be gone with the rising of the sun, and prayed that his family still lived. He knew little of medicine, though perhaps if he could get them to the town, there might still be hope for their survival. Holding on to that tiny glimmer of hope, he ran through the trees and back to the camp. A strangled cry left his lips when he finally saw the whole scene.

The first body he came upon among the ruin of the small camp was his mothers. Her clothes were torn, and she had been beaten badly. She lay in a small pool of her own blood, and her eyes were glazed and staring wide. She must have been terrified when she had finally been granted release from her pain. He knelt down beside the battered body and cried softly against her chest. He hated himself for not being able to protect her. Sitting up, he gently closed her eyelids and pressed a soft kiss to her bloodied brow.

Painful tears still rolling down his face, he searched the mess for his father’s broken body. Still hating himself for not returning sooner, he heard a soft moan of pain. It was very faint, and Taelin thought he’d imagined it, until it sounded once more.

“Ada?!?” His voice sounded small and panicked. He felt like an elfling who was stuck in a nightmare.

Getting to his feet, the young elf listened with all his might. He concentrated on the shallow ragged breathing with all his might, finally finding the owner.

“Ada! Oh, Ada! You’re alive!” Relieved tears rolled softly down his pale cheeks as he knelt beside the battered body.

“Tae … lin … y-you … s-s-sur … vived.” His father was badly injured, and fading quickly. Both his legs were broken in many places, his right shoulder had been dislocated, and his left hand had been severed entirely. He seemed to have also been blinded at some point during the night.

“Yes, A-Ada. I r-ran and h-hid f-from them.” Taelin sobbed, knowing his father was slowly dying that there was nothing he could do to stop it. “I c-came b-back and t-tried t-to get to y-you … but t-they w-were going t-to c-c-catch me … Nana …” The young elf sobbed unable to finish the sentence.

“Shh … hhh … I … know.” His father whispered. “I … p-pray … ed … you … were alive.” Barely able to choke out the words, his father gripped his hand weakly. “I-Ion-nin … l-listen to …m-me … k-know that … w-we … l-loved … you.” The last breath escaped his father’s lips.

Crying uncontrollably, the young elf bent over the cooling body of his father. He wished he could die as well, at least then he would be with his parents in the halls of waiting. His pain would end.

The young elf stayed there, crying over his father’s body, for hours. The das drs drawing to an end, and the light was slowly fading, when he finally could think of what to do next. Using all his strength, he dragged his parents’ bodies to the center of the clearing. He built a large funeral pyre and placed the bodies on top, before setting it ablaze.

Painful sobs wracked through his body as he watched the flames lick and finally claim the bodies of his only family. He was totally alone now, and his heart was broken. Where would he go? What would he do? He felt utterly lost, and as he lay by the pyre of his parents, sobbing into the night, he prayed for release from his pain and anguish. A release that would not come.

~~~***~~~

It seemed like days that the young elf sat by the clearing, unable to tear his eyes away from the ashes of his parents. He had never been on his own before, and felt very lost. Deep inside himself, he knew that he must try to move on, to conquer his grief and build a life for himself. He just didn’t know how. Sitting in the clearing, in a daze of half sleep that was plagued with terrifying visions of the night his life had changed, he was unaware of the party who approached him. Unable to pull himself from the reverie, the young elf never noticed the group of men who stepped from the woods and began to examine the wreckage.

“What’s this? What’ve we here?” An amused tone from the leader of the group asked as another, smaller man crouched at Taelin’s side.

“It’s an elf.” Slightly confused, the young man touched the pale skin. “I think he’s asleep. I’ve heard they sleep with their eyes open, like this. It’s a disconcerting to witness it though.” He stared at the small elf, who’s eyes seemed glazed and unseeing.

“What do we do with him? Surely we cannot leave him here?” Another asked.

“No, we will have to take him with us.” The leader decided. “Perhaps we can put him to good use? He seems very young, why else would he be sleeping in the open like this? Elves are usually very hard to find, one does not happen upon them in the woods, unless they *wish* to be found.”

“What if he’s violent when he wakes?” Another of the men asked, concerned.

“Bind him. If he’s violent, then we will *make* him submit to us.” The leader said with an evil look in his eye. /I hope you *are* violent, little one. It will shall be fun to break you./

~~~***~~~

Taelin woke to unfamiliar surroundings, nor did he remember how he’d gotten there. The last thing he remembered was watching the flames that had claimed his family. Had the orcs returned while he slept? Surely not, as he would now be walking the Halls of Mandos if that were true. This was not the halls of waiting, and judging by the pain in his heart, he still lived.

The yound elf attempted to sit up, only now realizing he had been bound. Glancing around the room, he could find no sign of who his captors might be. The room was bare and the only light was that from the moon which fell in long shadows on the floor. The light was enough for his elven eyes to notice the door on the opposite side of the room, and that he was tied to a small bracket on the wall. Whoever had brough him here, planned to keep him from escaping.

“Hello?” he called out. Perhaps his captors would take pity on him, or he could offer them something in exchange for his freedom, though what that might be, he didn’t know. He no longer owned any worldly possessions. The only thing he had that was of any worth was the small mithril necklace and delicate heart pendant that was the only thing left of his mothers. Something far to precious to trade, even if it meant his freedom.

The door creaked open, revealing a large man. Though Taelin was sure that could he stand, he might be head and shoulders taller than the mortal, there was something about him that envoked fear in the young elf Perhaps it was the gleam in his eyes, the dirt and dried blood on his hands, or the predatory gaze that rested on the trembling elf. Whatever it was, Taelin could not fool himself, he feared this man.

“So, yer finally awake, are ya?” The man sneered through Taelin couldn’t understand as he spoke very little of the common speech. Suddenly his situation seemed much more serious. He had to try to talk to this man, to get through to him somehow.

“Where am I, and what do you want from me?” the terrified elf asked, slipping into his native elvish with a trembling voice.

“You don’t speak no common, do ye, elf?” The man laughed, a queer smile growing upon his face.

Taelin searched his knowledge, knowing he would have to find a way to communicate if he had any chance at freedom, however little that might be. He wished silently, that he had payed more attention during his lessons. An idea came to him while he prayed, however, though he felt terribly foolish acting upon it.

He placed his hands over his chest and searched for the common words he needed. Looking the man in the eye, he began, hoping he would get the point across somehow.

“I Taelin.” He began nervously, he knew he was unable to create a full sentence with the few words he knew, but hoped the man would find the meaning in them. “Family … gone … alone … need go Wold … help …?” he looked pleadingly at the man, who had burst out laughing.

“You’re already there, elf!” He pulled Taelin harshly to his feet. “As for help? You can forget it. Yer my property now. A’int nothin’ you can do ‘bout that now!”

The man’s dark eyes seemed to bore into the trembling elf’s fea. He forced himself to stay still. There was no way for him to fight his captor at present. Taelin was bound too tightly, and had no weapons. His mind was racing, trying to think of any possible way to get away, to gain freedom, when he felt the man push him against the wall. Shoccryscrystal blue eyes met the brown ones, which were burning with lust.

“Yer beautiful, elf. I shall very much enjoy claiming you as my own.” A wicked smile played upon the dirty lips, before they were crushingly pressed against Taelin’s.

Filthy, but very strong, hands ran down the elf’s body as he began to shudder. /This cannot be happening! I will surely fade away if I am forced to…./ the young elf could not even finish his thought as the man hungrily kissed him again.

“Ahh, fear.” The man sneered with an evil smile on his face. “I can see it in yer eyes. I’ve been warned about forcin’ ye into something. Seeing as I don’t plan on lettin’ ya go anytime soon, there’d be no point in lettin’ ye die, neither.” The man’s voice chilled Taelin to his very bones.

The strong hands gripped him once more, forcing him back against the wall for a second time. His head hurt, and tears of pain rolled down his cheeks. What had he done that talaralar should curse him so? He had lost so much these last few days, and now he was losing his dignity as well.

The young elf nearly cried out when his tunic was ripped harshly from his body, followed by his leggings. His boots had already been taken from him, and now he stood naked and trembling against the wall. The man took a step back, and looked the elf up and down again, before licking his lips.

“More beautiful than I thought, elf. Who knew yer kind could be so perfect! ste stepped closer and ground his hardened groin against the terrified elf’s leg before whispering in the sharply pointed ear. “You may not understand me, but understand this. You *will* give in to me, or you will *not* like the consequences.”

Taelin had understood enough of the little speech for his painful tears to turn to that of fear. He flinched away when the man slowly licked the shell of his ear before biting the tip. The man’s hand slid down the silken skin once more, before grasping the elf’s lax sex, causing a yelp to escape Taelin’s lips. Never before had he felt so violated, nor so vulnerable.

“Please let me go.” The elf shuddered under the touch, speaking elvish in his fear.

“Such a pretty language, pity I don’t understand it, elf.” The man said mockingly. “But I’m sure you’ll understand this!” He grasped the elf’s sex harshly once more, then turned and left the room.

Taelin slid down the wall, into a shivering heap on the cold stone floor. Never had he wished to die more than at that moment. Fear gripped him with icy claws and he could no longer hold back the pained sobs now wracking through his body at amazing strength. How could everything suddenly turn so very wrong?