Posted: February 2004
Author: Iamme

*********

Lindir stroked Erestor's dark hair back; the elf had easily relaxed around him. Now, it was time to build on that trust, to build it, use it, and then break it.

"Do you trust me, Erestor?"

Erestor looked up at Lindir, his eyes giving the answer, he did, and his answer confirmed so, “With my life, Lindir, with my very life."

Lindir leaned in and brushed his lips across Erestor's in a soft kiss.

"Let me make love to you, Erestor, trust me."

******

Morcorban looked at the blood on his hands and wiped them on the dead elf's clothing. He had to leave now, had to run, and he could only think of one place to go, Imladris.

Quickly, he gathered the elf's body and pushed him into a closet. He picked up his pack that he had hid beneath his desk. It contained only what he would need, a dagger, some dried meat and a couple of biscuits, a small water skin, and lastly, a sword. He would leave everything that reminded him of this place behind except for the small mithril ring on the leather thong around his neck, his lover's ring, the very item that brought him the worst memories.

He hurried for the door and made for the stables, nodding to the few elves he passed, if they saw the forming bruises across his face, none made any mention of it. It was not uncommon, after all. Most of them thought that he and Carchthoron were lovers; if only they knew the truth.

*****

Erestor tried to relax, tried to let Lindir love him, but he could not. Every kiss, every touch made him shudder with disgust from what had happened to him. “I am sorry, Lindir, I cannot do this. I need to be alone for a while.”

Lindir nodded, “I understand, mellon. I will tell Lord Elrond of your wishes, but should you need something call me alright?”

Erestor nodded, “I will, Lindir. Thank you. I am glad you are here.”

Lindir smiled at Erestor as he opened the door and then walked out.

Lindir did not see the elfling hiding in the corner as he exited and as soon as it was clear Elladan moved to the door.

Elladan pushed the door open and saw Erestor lying in the bed. ‘Erestor, are you better now?”

Erestor turned and looked at Elladan. “I am better than I was before, Master Elladan.”

Elladan smiled, “Does that mean you will be back to being our tutor? We miss you.”

Erestor nodded, “Soon, I hope.”

Elladan handed Erestor a piece of parchment with a stick elf and get better soon written across the top.

“Ro and I made it for you.”

Erestor could not help but smile as he sat it aside and hugged the elfling.

“Thank you, Elladan, I will talk to your father and see when he thinks I can return.

Elladan nodded and hugged Erestor once more before rushing out.

Erestor could not help but smile looking at the stick elf in the dark robes..or what he assumed were robes.. Like Elrond, they would be good Lords some day.

Glorfindel muttered a few curses about keeping an elf confined too long, he could not believe they had kept him here for three days over such a small scratch, and sedated no less. He did have duties to attend, after all.

Well, he could not buy back the lost time. That was impossible, even for the Firstborn. He headed for Lord Elrond’s office. He had been informed that the twins were back and all was well. Even though he had been unavailable, he had snorted at the healer and walked through the door. He did not tell them that the problem was he felt guilty for not being able to prevent the twins from being taken to begin with.

He had just entered the hall where his rooms were when he saw Elladan rush from Erestor’s room.

“Elladan, what were you doing in Erestor’s room? Are you not supposed to be studying?”

Elladan giggled, “It is Saturday, Glorfindel. I was giving Erestor a card Ro and I made for him.”

Glorfindel frowned, “All right, off with you then.”

Elladan nodded and ran off. Glorfindel started to knock on the counselor’s door then stopped and instead, headed towards Elrond’s office. He would talk to him after he spoke with Elrond. He needed to be appraised of the present situation.

*****

Morcorban mounted the horse and slowly rode out, trying not to look suspicious. He made as if he were simply going to check on the troops. That would buy him some time. He had left word that Carchthoron was busy and was not to be disturbed. He guided the horse out into the noon sun and had to squint, too long had he lived beneath the earth, beneath Melkor, and while he was not free, he soon would be. He turned his mount in the direction of Imladris, with a slightly lighter heart and growing hope.

Posted: April 2004
Author: Iamme
Author’s notes: Thanks to Mirasaui and Jenobean for their help with this story and Lalaith Nienori for the information on the Simarillion.

*********

Melkor stood looking down at the cold dead body of Carchthoron and smiled evilly, eyes shining with a wicked light; everything was going as planned.

Soon, Morcorban would arrive in Imladris injured and scared, hopefully near death! But not too near, not yet, that would come later. Elrond would take pity on him and bring him in to Imladris and treat him. He had trained Morcorban to sway people with but a few well-spoken words but Lord Elrond was no fool either. Melkor had sent orcs ahead to make sure that Morcorban’s new bout of courage would not bring his plans toppling to ruin, once Morcorban got inside. There he would be able to use the weak elf to ensnare the young lord he had set his eyes on. Elladan would be better than Morcorban, a true Lord and son of one of the most loved elves on Arda. What more could he ask for?

Lindir would make sure to tie up the lose ends and deliver Lord Elladan to him. Once the minstrel was back, Melkor would reward him appropriately. If Lindir would betray his own people, then there was nothing from stopping him from doing so again. Melkor had no need of his type in such high position but he would enjoy watching the beautiful elf suffer until he was as hideous on the outside as he was in. Perhaps he would even use him to train his new apprentice.

Melkor’s day was looking up!

The Vala walked silently out into the hall, surprising one of the servants, causing the elf to drop to his knees looking at the grey stone beneath him. Melkor’s visage was so horrid that the poor trembling creature was unable to bear to look at the Vala with the face worse than that of the most hideous of orcs. Melkor watched the trembling elf hiding and he felt his hatred for the first born burning hotter than ever before. Once, he had been more beautiful than they and now their beauty sickened him. For now, he would bide his time. Someday there would be no elves left. Once he claimed Arda, he WOULD claim Valinor or destroy it all! He took a deep breath and spoke calmly to the trembling elf, “Find Melawr, and send him to me. I have a war to plan. And get someone to take care of Carchthoron’s body.” The servant nodded and hurried off never looking up.
******

Lindir was walking past Erestor’s office to try to see when he could get in and look around when he saw Melpomaen walking out with several leather folders in his hands and looking as if he had had a long day. His normally perfect robes were wrinkled and his hair that Lindir had never seen in a less than perfect state was slipping from its clip. It was just what Lindir needed.

Lindir gave Melpomaen a sympathetic look, “Melpomaen, you look terrible.”

“Lindir… Well it has been terrible the last few weeks. Our workload has tripled. I live in my office. I think I even forgot where I live, I have not seen it in so long.”

“Well let me help you out. Maybe, tonight you can get out early.”

“I should not…this is confidential.”

“Come on Melpomaen, if you cannot trust me, who can you trust?”

Melpomaen thought about it for a moment. Lindir had to be one of the most loyal elves in Imladris. He would not hurt them. “All right, just this once. I would like to see my bed before I have to get out of it. These go to the kitchen, this one goes to the dwarves staying out by the barracks, and this one goes to Lord Elrond’s office.”

Lindir took the files before clapping Melpomaen on the shoulder and replying, “Get some sleep tonight, Melpomaen.”

The tired elf nodded, “I will, thank you.”

Lindir turned and headed off, when he was out of sight he circled back towards his own quarters and opened the folders and began to go through them. Inside was just what he had been waiting for and he smiled, “Thank you Melpomaen, thank you very much.”

*******

Morcorban rode towards the border of Imladris hard and fast. He was a horseman but no warrior, were he to run into any of Melkor’s minions he would not win the battle his only hope was to get there before they could realize where he was headed.

He rode all night and near morning, he neared the border when an arrow struck him in the lower right back. Fiery pain shot through his body but he was too close to give up. He spurred the horse on and managed to dodge two more arrows but another landed in his left thigh and another in the back of his right shoulder, he could feel the poison burning through him and he felt his vision began to cloud. The thought that he might die soon washed over him like a cool stream on a hot day. It soothed him to know he may escape the pain soon. Either way, he would be out of Melkor’s clutches and hopefully before he died, he could tell Lord Elrond all that he knew of what Melkor had told him and what he had seen. All that mattered now is that Melkor was defeated once more. He saw the other elves and as he rode in, another arrow hit his horse and it fell rolling on top of him breaking many of the arrows off. The last things he saw before darkness swallowed him were white arrows flying past.

Glorfindel knocked on the door to Elrond’s Chambers but the Lord was not there so he turned to head back and ran right into Lindir.

“Lindir, it is good to see you. If you were looking for lord Elrond, he is not here.”

“Actually, I was just delivering these papers for Melpomaen. I will just set these on Lord Elrond’s desk and then be off.”

Glorfindel gave a nod. “I am going to go look for him. I thought he would be here.”

Lindir nodded, “If I see him, I will tell him you were looking for him.”

“Thank you, Lindir.” With that, Glorfndel turned and Lindir slipped into Elrond’s office.

Once inside, Lindir sat the tied leather folder on the desk, he had made sure to copy the information inside. Melkor would love to know that the Lady of Imladris was going on a journey…taking young Arwen to Lorien. This was what they had been waiting for.

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