"...he deserves nothing but death." Vlad's words echoed painfully in Melost's mind and for a moment he froze. The others were beginning to notice that he and Vlad had come to a halt. He had to say something, anything. This man had offered him an alliance...friendship? Shadows of memories ghosted across his consciousness as he gazed into Vlad's sardonic gaze. It seemed right to trust him, even though he came from less than savoury beginnings. Quickly, before he could think further, Melost reached out and clasped Vlad's wrist. "My thanks...Vlad. Now, come. We must hasten to Lothlorien. There my kinsman Gil-galad lies with his armies, adding them to that of the Men of the West. There we shall also find...him."
Melost averted his eyes from Vlad's keen glance, unwilling to let him see the sudden sheen of tears that glistened there. He turned and strode forward, edging away from those that now clustered close to Vlad, asking him what had been said between the two of them. As he passed by Jaheira, he felt the hot sting of saliva on the back of his neck as she spat at him viciously. He closed his eyes, clenched his jaw and kept on walking.
*************
Gil-galad had sharpened Aeglos' edge to a killing point by the time Anwenelme was announced. He carefully set his spear across the top of his map table before granting her admittance. As she was entering, another was announced, the human soldier Arthain. Gil-galad's eyes narrowed in irritation. He was about to have the man wait outside, then thought better of it. "Let them see one another, one last time..."
As they entered the High King's presence, both of them went to opposite sides of the tent and glared at one another until she finally turned her head away and stared straight into Gil-galad's eyes. She curtsied deeply. "My King, you requested my presence?" her sultry voice caressed Gil-galad's ears and he smiled to himself. "Yes, Anwenelme, arise." She noticed that he did not extend his hand to her, but she nonetheless rose gracefully to her feet. In a voice as cold as ice, Gil-galad spoke to her slowly and clearly. "It has been brought to my attention that you have betrayed my kinnman with this...man." She opened her mouth to defend herself, eyes flashing.
"Silence, woman! The reason is not important, for the proof lies beneath your breast. You know that you bear this human's child, do you not?" A gasp from the other side of the tent drew their attention to Arthain who stood swaying, his face white as milk. Gil-galad froze him with a look and returned his full attention to her. Anwenelme's colour had heightened and her breathing had grown rapid as she searched within herself for the truth of Gil-galad's assertion. She had been so focussed on defending herself, she had ignored the possibility of the impossible happening.
He saw the truth of his words reflected back in her eyes as she straightened her back and raised her chin. "Valar, what a warrior she would have made!" the King thought as he watched her come to grips with this new situation. He could see her mind, turning, weighing options, calculating risks. It was time to take all the options away. "Hear me, woman. You will have a son, the image of his sire, bearing within him all the love and loyalty his sire bore for Melost. I will send word to Cirdan and all others who guard the shores of this land to never allow your passage into the West. His doom shall be to live out his life in sole devotion to you, and you...yours shall be to remain here, remembering the lives you have destroyed. Now, go! Leave my sight!" A single tear slid down her cheek as she passed from the tent and out into the care of the guards who were never to leave her from that time on.
[ November 22, 2003: Message edited by: Cuthalion ]
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