The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post - To Rescue Celebrian

***Mithadan*** · 07-17-2003, 10:39 AM

Elladan listened to Torfithien's words and hope rose in his heart. Even as they had run from the collapsed tunnel, he and Elrohir had argued concerning what course to take. Should they attempt to locate their companions first or continue the search for Celebrian? If they were overlong in attempting to find their mother, they might never locate their companions. But if they sought those who had fallen to the lower levels, they would certainly encounter more Orcs and risk being slain, captured or driven from Moria. Torfithien's sharp hearing may have resolved their dilemma.

They peered into the passage that Torfithien had indicated but could neither see nor hear anything. Elladan turned to his brother and whispered to him hurriedly. "The time has come," he said. "We must use Osanwe and attempt to speak with her. Perhaps she may be able to give us some guidance."

Elrohir nodded. "Take care!" he warned. "There is something else here which may be able to hear your call. Something very dark." Elladan nodded. Then he sat on the tunnel floor and closed his eyes...

--------------------------

Weeks had passed. Each day seemed worse than the one before. She and Feaelena had endured hunger and repeated beatings at the hands of their captors. The Orcs came by every day or so with a bowl of water and some crusts of bread...if they remembered. But at other times, they had come only to taunt their captives, to paw at them with their claws and tear at their clothing.

Once, when their guards had entered and begun beating her, Feaelena had attempted to stop them. The guards had turned from Celebrian and amused themselves with her handmaiden, holding her down and carving foul words on her face with their jagged knives. Then they had beaten her senseless.

On this day, or night--time seemed to have no meaning here. Their guards had entered again to drop some crumbs of food. They leered at the Elves as they scrabbled about the floor, picking up the crusts of bread. Then the captain had taunted them. "We're preparing a party for you vermin," he growled. "Tonight you'll be our guests o' honor. Then when we're done with our fun, you'll be the main course. You've been fattened up enough!" With that, he reached out a claw and pinched her. Celebrian choked back a cry and attempted to back away, but the Orc seized her by her hair.

At that moment, Feaelena leaped upon his back and beat upon his foul head with her fists. The second guard seized her and threw her to the floor, kicking her repeatedly. Then the captain drew his knife and traced a line from her ear down to her throat. He stuck her again across the face, then bent and licked at the blood oozing from the cut. He stood with a toothy smile. "Tonight we'll cut you a bit deeper than that," he cried, before exiting the cell and locking the door.

Celebrian was breathless and realized that she had been screaming until she began gasping for air. "Feaelena!" she sobbed. "Are you all right? Feaelena!"

Feaelena roused herself and looked up at Celebrian feebly. Her face was a mass of bruises and blood trickled from her throat to the floor. She nodded wearily.

Celebrian collapsed to the floor beside Feaelena and buried her face in her hands. But at that moment, she heard a voice in her mind as if the speaker were standing next to her.

Mother? She gasped and sat up. Elladan?

----------------------------

He gasped as her pain and anguish flooded through his mind. We are here, just above the gates. Help us find you. Where are you?

I'm not certain, she answered. I was unconscious when they brought us here. But Feaelena said they brought us through the gates and carried us through two great halls to a spiral stair. She told me they carried us down five or more levels then through a door into a hall with doors on either side before throwing us into a cell. There are guards! Do not come! It is too dangerous!

Even as she spoke, he felt something else reaching out for him, somthing dark and powerful. Even as he pushed it away and shut it out, he felt it begin to move. In the depths below the brothers they heard a sound like a great drum. Doom, doom.

Elladan sprang up and ran down the passage Torfithien had indicated. Elrohir followed close behind. At the end of the tunnel was a door. Behind the door was a landing and a spiral stair which circled upward to their left and downward to their right. Without a word, they began descending as rapidly as they dared. They had gone some ways downward before they realized that Torfithien was no longer with them.

[ July 17, 2003: Message edited by: Mithadan ]

07-17-2003, 10:39 AM	#77
*Mithadan* Spirit of Mist Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Tol Eressea Posts: 3,394	Elladan listened to Torfithien's words and hope rose in his heart. Even as they had run from the collapsed tunnel, he and Elrohir had argued concerning what course to take. Should they attempt to locate their companions first or continue the search for Celebrian? If they were overlong in attempting to find their mother, they might never locate their companions. But if they sought those who had fallen to the lower levels, they would certainly encounter more Orcs and risk being slain, captured or driven from Moria. Torfithien's sharp hearing may have resolved their dilemma. They peered into the passage that Torfithien had indicated but could neither see nor hear anything. Elladan turned to his brother and whispered to him hurriedly. "The time has come," he said. "We must use Osanwe and attempt to speak with her. Perhaps she may be able to give us some guidance." Elrohir nodded. "Take care!" he warned. "There is something else here which may be able to hear your call. Something very dark." Elladan nodded. Then he sat on the tunnel floor and closed his eyes... -------------------------- Weeks had passed. Each day seemed worse than the one before. She and Feaelena had endured hunger and repeated beatings at the hands of their captors. The Orcs came by every day or so with a bowl of water and some crusts of bread...if they remembered. But at other times, they had come only to taunt their captives, to paw at them with their claws and tear at their clothing. Once, when their guards had entered and begun beating her, Feaelena had attempted to stop them. The guards had turned from Celebrian and amused themselves with her handmaiden, holding her down and carving foul words on her face with their jagged knives. Then they had beaten her senseless. On this day, or night--time seemed to have no meaning here. Their guards had entered again to drop some crumbs of food. They leered at the Elves as they scrabbled about the floor, picking up the crusts of bread. Then the captain had taunted them. "We're preparing a party for you vermin," he growled. "Tonight you'll be our guests o' honor. Then when we're done with our fun, you'll be the main course. You've been fattened up enough!" With that, he reached out a claw and pinched her. Celebrian choked back a cry and attempted to back away, but the Orc seized her by her hair. At that moment, Feaelena leaped upon his back and beat upon his foul head with her fists. The second guard seized her and threw her to the floor, kicking her repeatedly. Then the captain drew his knife and traced a line from her ear down to her throat. He stuck her again across the face, then bent and licked at the blood oozing from the cut. He stood with a toothy smile. "Tonight we'll cut you a bit deeper than that," he cried, before exiting the cell and locking the door. Celebrian was breathless and realized that she had been screaming until she began gasping for air. "Feaelena!" she sobbed. "Are you all right? Feaelena!" Feaelena roused herself and looked up at Celebrian feebly. Her face was a mass of bruises and blood trickled from her throat to the floor. She nodded wearily. Celebrian collapsed to the floor beside Feaelena and buried her face in her hands. But at that moment, she heard a voice in her mind as if the speaker were standing next to her. Mother? She gasped and sat up. Elladan? ---------------------------- He gasped as her pain and anguish flooded through his mind. We are here, just above the gates. Help us find you. Where are you? I'm not certain, she answered. I was unconscious when they brought us here. But Feaelena said they brought us through the gates and carried us through two great halls to a spiral stair. She told me they carried us down five or more levels then through a door into a hall with doors on either side before throwing us into a cell. There are guards! Do not come! It is too dangerous! Even as she spoke, he felt something else reaching out for him, somthing dark and powerful. Even as he pushed it away and shut it out, he felt it begin to move. In the depths below the brothers they heard a sound like a great drum. Doom, doom. Elladan sprang up and ran down the passage Torfithien had indicated. Elrohir followed close behind. At the end of the tunnel was a door. Behind the door was a landing and a spiral stair which circled upward to their left and downward to their right. Without a word, they began descending as rapidly as they dared. They had gone some ways downward before they realized that Torfithien was no longer with them. [ July 17, 2003: Message edited by: Mithadan ] __________________ Beleriand, Beleriand, the borders of the Elven-land.