[littlemanpoet]

What need have I of you, Roy Edwards of an age long hence from this? You should not be here.

"What do you want?"

Lord Amroth's mad quest to be ended.

"It will not end," said Erebemlin.

Tharonwe frowned in displeasure. Alas for this fair maiden. You see, I can no longer countenance such intransigence, and someone must suffer for it. Tharonwe's knife flicked up to Mellonin's tearstained face and a red line appeared from her brow to her lip just inside her left eye. Mellonin cried out and jerked her head back from the knife. The red line spread and opened into a frightening gash. Blood pooled and mixed with the tears streaking down her face. Tharonwe raised a long finger to the deep wound and dipped his finger in to the first knuckle. He lowered his finger to the raised noses of the merlocks. They hungrily pawed at Mellonin's leg. She whimpered fearfully.

Ravion growled something that Raefindan could not quite interpret as speech.

"Do your worst, Tharonwe," said Erebemlin. "We will not be dissuaded from our quest."

Ravion eyed Erebemlin with poorly disguised contempt and rage, but he said nothing.

I almost believe you. But here! More captives come! Raefindan saw Bellyn and Leafa, bound tightly and borne, like logs to be burned, on the backs of many merlocks.

Nethwador rose in his saddle and scanned the bogs intently, peering over and around every hummock within reach of vision. His brow furrowed deeply, Liornung said, "If they are harmed..."

Tharonwe unbound their legs so they could stand, and stood them near Mellonin. Tharonwe wakened them. I fear that they are not as well as they were before you left them all alone in the open wild. Alas, these friends of mine are ever hungry, and I cannot stay them entirely from their appetites. He moved to Argeleafa and lifted her hair from her head to reveal her left ear. It was not there. Blood streaked her neck.

"Foul miscreant!" Liornung cried. "And what of Bella?"

Her captors were apparently not so hungry and did no nibbling.

Four more merlocks waded chest deep through the muddy water, bearing Gwyllion on their shoulders between them. Her legs dragged in the water. As the merlocks came up out of the water, her legs came up out of the water, revealing that there was nothing below her left knee. Blood oozed from the mangled wound.

Raefindan closed his eyes and tried to force the image from his mind. He looked pointedly at Ravion, who was looking at him out of haunted eyes; Raefindan was sure his appeared the same.

I fear she will never walk properly again. 'Tis a shame.

"Erebemlin!" cried Ravion. "This cannot go on! Do you want them devoured before our very eyes?"

"Ravion," Erebemlin said, betraying no expression than his wrath for Tharonwe, "if we give him the one thing, do you think that he is finished? Whether this fair faced orc wins much or little from us, they shall be devoured. Why would he stop his merlocks?"

So that was what they were called, thought Raefindan. Merlocks. It was an evil name. He feared to be among them, for then his own fate seemed sure, but he could not allow it to happen to Mellonin, Bellyn, Leafa, and Gwyllion. As it was, Mellonin would wear a terrible scar for the rest of her days.

"Take me in trade for all of them, Tharonwe. There must be some use you could find for me."

Indeed I think that there is a way. We shall make this trade. I am convinced that these Elves would prefer to watch my merlocks feed than accede to my request. So come.

"Where do I go?" Raefindan asked.

"No, Raefindan!" Ravion said. "We need you!"

"Friend, I do not know how, but somehow it seems that this will be for the best, for all of us. Please, let me go."

Raefindan didn't know where his words had come from, and he scarcely believed them himself, but there seemed to be something stronger in them than his own voice. It seemed as if the stars, still hidden by the descending sun, had revealed themselves to his mind, and he took courage, he knew not how. Ravion watched him, saw the determination, and peace, in his face. He sighed, his shoulders fell, and he nodded.

"So be it. Go in hope, friend."

How quaint. I am almost touched. Roy Edwards, you will walk along the path you have been following until you are out of sight of your party, then you will follow as I lead you in your mind.

Raefindan dismounted and walked away from the group, taking nothing with him. He tried to keep the blessing of the stars in his mind, but fear grew in him, as did chagrin. Fool, Edwards, do you really think you can pull off some kind of coup out of this?