Part 8

*********

Morcorban walked back in to the room, his expression neutral. The dark elf took his place at the head of the table . “Shall we begin?”

Celeborn spoke up first, “We are willing to help your people in fighting Melkor, we will allow diplomatic relations, we will come aid you,and we would expect the same of you, but first you must release the prisoners that you hold captive.”

Morcorban seemed to think on this for the moment, a leather clad finger taping against his lip. “We could release most of them, but some are held for crimes against our people. I am sure you understand this as you all have several prisoners yourselves, whom I would expect you to release as well.”

“Of course, that is only fair.” Noted Celeborn.

The debating continued back and forth for what seemed like hours before an urgent knocking came upon the door.

Morcorban frowned, “Enter!”

The door swung over to reveal a wide eyed advisor with stitches across his forehead and a broken nose.

“M’lord, I need to speak with you. It is most urgent.”

Morcorban sighed unhappily , “Please excuse me, I shall return.” With that he stood and walked out closing the door closing it behind him, but it did not stop them from hearing the menacing tone in the voice.

“This had better be important, Brilion, you do not wish me to be any more unhappy than what I am with you.”

The three rulers did not hear the rest of the conversation only Morcorban uttering a long string of curses before barking orders at Brilion, “Have Carchthoron lock him up. I will be there in a moment! I will deal with him personally.”

The door opened and Morcorban walked back in, nodding in a hurried manner to all in attendance.
“I fear that the negotiations will have to be continued at a later date, our king has been assassinated. I will have someone show you to your rooms.”

Elrond sighed, there had been too much loss for all.
“Is there anything we can do to help you, as a show of good faith between our peoples?"

“The offer is appreciated but we have already apprehended the assassin. It is just a matter of finding out who sent him though I have a strong suspicion of who.”

Morcorban left abruptly. As soon as they all knew he was out of earshot, Thranduil spoke up. “ This is not right; I do not like this at all. Now I have to wonder why was the king not in here negotiating with us.”

Elrond crossed his arms as he spoke to his friend. “Now we should not jump to conclusions; there have been many odd happenings even with in our own borders. Let us go to our rooms and discuss things so that we can be ready when these talks resume. I, for one, am ready to go home.”

“I agree but it would be rude for us to leave now.” Noted Celeborn.

“I agree so let us take every measure to cut our visit short.” Added Thranduil

**

Morcorban stood over the body of his uncle, he looked peaceful and serenely beautiful even in death, his body had already been cleaned and his long brown hair braided, a sheet covered his body up to his neck.

Somewhere deep inside of himself, some of the old Morcorban was trying to surface, the one who had been a quiet scholar, the one who would never had hurt anyone, the one who had known love and compassion. He thought he felt a faint memory of something that felt like pain surface.

He almost wished he could feel sorry for his uncle but he had only helped him descend in to the darkness. He had used him and the part of him that the now dead king had helped create did not feel such things for his victims. He was merely another addition to the nameless faces that haunted his dreams every night, and now it was time to go create another when he punished the killer that he had set loose upon his guardian.

What did it matter? It was not as if he could hate himself any more. He could feel the madness with in him. He was not even sure which thoughts were really his anymore. At this moment, he would do anything just to have his own life back but that was impossible. It was time to go out and face his people. He had no choice but to lead them down the road he was already on.

He did not flinch when suddenly, he felt Carchthoron’s hand rest upon his shoulder. “It had to be done, Morcorban. You know this yet you stand here regretting it. Why? Through you, our Lord will unite our people and then he will be able to rule all as one. Yet if I did not know better, I would think that you were starting to have second thoughts.”

He shrugged the hand off and turned for the door, “I know my place, Carchthoron. I do not need to be reminded.”

Suddenly he was slammed against the wall, Carchthoron’s hand pinning him firmly by the throat. Morcorban grabbed it, holding on though he knew it would be futile to struggle against the warrior.

“Do not forget your place, Morcorban, you are a puppet and nothing more, do not fuck this up or you will regret it. I think you have feelings for the counselor from Imladris. Though you have a funny way of showing it.”

The warrior laughed as he dropped Morcorban to the ground, leaving him heaving for breath as Melkor’s general headed for the door.

“It would be a shame if he were to find out that his cousin had been your lover before you murdered him. They do look soooo much alike. Do they not? I think you torture him because it was all his fault what happened to the both of you. It was his idea to ride out that day you were captured, was it not?”

“I torture him because Melkor forced me to do it, I raped him because Melkor took control of my mind and I had no choice, and you know it. And as far as Caladduath, I killed him to save him. I am glad he is dead because now no one else can hurt him ever again. There are things far worse than death, as you should know by now.”

“I’m glad you understand that, keep it in mind, I would love nothing more than to make you beg for death. You do not know how much I hate taking orders from you.” The warrior walked back over delivering a hard kick to Morcorban’s ribs, grinning like a wellfed cat at the resounding crack...

“If I were you, I would not go to sleep tonight. I am not sure you would like your wake up call. I am off to do your bidding now. Good night, my King.”

Morcorban ignored the sarcasm in the statement, just glad to be alone.

Pulling himself to his feet, he cradled his broken ribs, whispering to Caladduath where ever he may be. “I am glad you escaped your nightmare. I wish someone would rescue me from mine.” He straightened his robes to cover the dark bruises forming at his throat and covering the body of his uncle before walking out and closing the door.

**
Morcorban was relieved to find the party from Imladris still up even though it was past 1 am. He had had to wait for Carchthoron to go to sleep and Melkor to be satisfied enough to leave his mind before talking to them. He only hoped they would be able to put it all together. He could hear them debating about the present situation and when he knocked on their door. With in moments, he found himself looking Lord Celeborn in the eyes. “Lord Celeborn, I am sorry to bother you so late. I am afraid I will not be able to continue these negotiations for sometime. I have set provisions for you and your party to return on the marrow.”

Celeborn nodded “Of course.”

Morcorban bit his lip for a minute, “If you find it acceptable, I would send an ambassador with you to Imladris to help keep the line of communication open between our peoples.”

Elrond having heard came to the door. “That would be fine.”

“ Verry well. You should rest. I would not have you linger at this time. You will go early in the morning.” Morcorban had to fight to keep the relief off of his face as he handed Elrond a letter." Please give this to Erestor. It is my formal apology. I am having some of your prisoners released and they will be ready to go on the morrow."

Elrond and Celeborn both stared at him in shock, just nodding.

Morcorban turned and walked away, leaving them staring after him.He had too much to do to waste time.

Back in the room, Elrond looked at Celeborn raising a brow. "That was very odd. Something is not right." noted Elrond.

"Something has not been right from the very moment we arrived. I will be glad in the morning when we ride out of here."

Elrond nodded in agreement and both elf lords turned for bed to get what rest they could before they had to go.

Posted: October 2003

*********

It was a couple of hours later that the ambassador knocked on their door, a bleary eyed Thranduil opening the door to see an elf with blond hair and blue eyes but kind of on the short side for an elf. “Yes?”

“ Merillam, the ambassador that is going to go with you. We must go now; hurry please."

Thranduil rubbed his eyes, "Why so early?"

The ambassador frowned. "I have no time to explain now, but you are all in danger. We must go."

Thranduil nodded and dragged the other lords out of bed along with their troop of advisors.

With in half an hour, they were on their way out of Morgur with 20 released prisoners, and the provisions they would need to feed them and take care of them till they reached Imladris.

***************

Morcorban stood at the window, teeth biting into the leather of his glove, as he watching the party from Imladris leave. He paced back and forth madly for several minutes, before dropping into his chair.

"I have gone insane!"

The little voice that used to be his conscience spoke to him and said he was wrong. He was actually becoming more sane than he had been in an age. "You are doing what you know is right." It told him and he nodded and leaned back, closing his eyes. He had started and now he would finish regardless of the pain it would cost him. He at least knew that soon Erestor would be free from them. His mind began to seek out Erestor and did not take long to find him.

He could feel the counselor, submerged in the web of nightmares that had plagued him since he had left Morgur. Morcorban knew he could do nothing about that, but he could help keep him from being locked into the same mental prison he was in.

The Dark King felt the cold fear, he knew he would pay dearly for this. He could only hope that he succeeded in his goal.The futures of so many rested on it. Then he did something he had not done since that day so long ago when fate had become so cruel to him. He began to mutter a silent prayer to the Valar, begging them for this one last thing. It was too late for him. At least, let him do one good thing to help someone else.

*****

Erestor could not remember falling asleep, but there he stood before Morcorban, stood staring at his nemesis for a long moment before finding his voice.

"What part of me do you want now?"

Morcorban sighed, "I deserved that, but I have not come to hurt you this time. I have come to help you."

"Help me? Why would you do that?"

“I do not have time to explain everything Erestor.. I am sorry. I know that is not enough though so, I have come to warn you."

"Warn me about what ?"

Morcorban started to pace like a caged warg. "Melkor... he... he has plans to ... use Elrond’s sons against him when they reach their majority. I do not know how but he has set it in motion already. I know that there is a spy with in the borders of Imladris and you are not him. I have sent a letter with the potion that will release you."

Erestor eyed him warily, “Why do you suddenly want to help me?"

Morcorban closed his eyes, fighting back tears that he did not even know he had any more, "Because I did not want to hurt you in the first place."

Erestor laughed bitterly, "Tell me then what on Arda could force you to take such an action against me, and all the rest of your own kind?"

Morcorban tore off his gloves revealing scared hands, not random accidental scars. Scars someone had put there, created by molten mithril, lain out in an elaborate pattern Erestor recognized as Melkor's symbol and it made him shudder.

“I am Melkor’s servant!! I have no choice. I have no life of my own! It was stolen from me long ago!!

Erestor frowned, "How did this happen?

“We were captured by orcs, my lover and I. To save him.. I gave myself over to Melkor willingly. I am his pawn and nothing more."

Morcorban stepped closer to Erestor, running a shaking scared finger down his cheek, “I do like you Erestor, I wish things could have been different. It was not my choice but I cannot undo them now. I know you will never be able to forgive me and I do not want you to. I deserve all of the hate that you have for me.”

Erestor watched as the other elf moved to the window. “I do not hate you. I pity you, what you have been reduced to.”

“I do not want your pity, I want release from this life and nothing more. I am not even allowed to fade or I would have died ages ago. I hate knowing the kind of things I am going to have to continue doing and I hate myself knowing I am powerless to stop it. Thanks to Melkor everything I wanted, everything I cared about has been snatched away from me. You must believe me. I did want you but not like that. I mean…”

Morcorban sighed heavily clenching the window sill, his knuckles white from the strain, saying nothing, for he could not finish his thought and short of that, there was nothing left to be said.

A sob escaped Morcorban’s throat and Erestor walked forward laying a hand on his shoulder. He did not understand why he was doing this but he gently pressed his lips to Morcorban's hair.

“For one night, we will try to forget what has befallen us.”

Morcorban turned and looked at Erestor, his eyes wide with shock. “ I do not understand what you just said?”

Erestor’s answer was to lean in, kissing the elf deeply. Morcorban kissed him back hesitantly before pulling away.

“I…ummm..”

Erestor looked the elf in the eyes. “Do you want this?”

Morcorban swallowed hard, his voice barely above a whisper. “Yes....”

“Than shut up and let me kiss you.”

Morcorban’s eyes widened. “But how can you allow…”

Erestor claimed his lips not waiting for him to finish. He made quick work of Morcorban's robes, before quickly pushing him onto the table.

"Erestor leaned down and sucked at the tip of Morcorban's ear. "This time it will be my way, my rules. I am going to be the one to fuck you this time. Is this what you wanted?"

The dark elf whimpered and nodded, feeling helpless to respond any other way. He not only wanted this, he needed it

He could hear the sound of the counselor's robes hitting the floor and then felt the heat of his lips against the base of his spine, slowly working up in a slow torturous path, then fear hit him. He could feel Melkor watching them. He tried to stop Erestor yet his voice would not come, his voice refusing to answer his command.

All he could do was whimper as Erestor's cock slid into him with no oil and nothing to prepare him for the swift entry that he was so used to but it had not been this wonderful for so long. His body cried out at the familiar pain, yet it was soon forgotten. Erestor began to thrust across that spot that had not been touched since he was young and innocent. He had been in the arms of his lover. It had been that last day.

Morcorban shook his head, trying to erase the memories that could break him easier than any physical pain. Erestor was so much like him, he began to cry silently as the memories washed over him, memories of a love he tried to bury deep with in so that they could haunt him no longer.

Erestor's hands gripped his hips as he began to pump faster and harder in to Morcorban, his thrusts lifting him off the floor. Morcorban tried to move with the rhythm that had been set but Erestor would have none of it and held him in place taking what he needed from the body beneath him.

Morcorban nearly screamed as Erestor grabbed his erection and begin to stroke it at a quick pace and before Morcorban knew what had happened, he heard Erestor scream his name and he could feel the warmth shooting across his belly and coating his insides in a scalding wave that left him weak and shaking from too many feelings both physical and emotional as they crashed through his walls that he had built so long ago. His wounds were reopened and bleeding and he was not sure if he could heal them this time. He felt Melkor smile evilly and he knew he was in trouble, he knew that his master would make him pay for everything he had done.

**

The elf stood at the door to the cell watching Erestor smiling as he cried out Morcorban's name. Smiling as his body gave into the physical pleasure. He fingered the vial in his pocket and smiled, soon everything would be set in motion and no one would be any the wiser about it. Soon there would be no stopping the inevitable.

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