Fathers and Sons

Chapter 15

Warning: Yeah I brought Celebrimbor back but I want to warn everyone that his past is extremely dark and there will be triggers such as rape, forced breeding, death in childbirth, and torture in his past. This is your warning.

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The lone elf lumbered through the depth of the halls, his body trembling as he searched through the caverns deep under the mountains. He needed to get out of those orc infested tunnels, he longed to see the sky again. It had been so long since he had seen even a single blade of grass.

Perhaps an entire age had come and gone since the dark haired elf had been held by orcs and tortured. He hardly remembered a time when his body wasn't in pain. He'd gotten used to it by now. When the underground lair he was being held in had been suddenly abandoned, he thought he was dreaming. He dared to hope that maybe Sauron was defeated and that he was never going to return and enact pain on his broken subject. He scarcely wanted to believe it.

And yet, here he was, wandering the deep caverns in silence. He hadn't encountered a single orc in perhaps half a century. He had been hiding here, deep in the depth, for he had lost his way. He didn't know how to get to the surface and he feared he would be doomed to wander in darkness forever, never to see the light again.

The elf glanced at the two rodents that he had caught. Not much of a meal, but it would have to do. He wouldn't be eating it anyway. It would be a while longer before he could think of himself.

"Strange to find an elf in these parts," came a voice, suddenly, from a cavern to his left. The elf whirled, putting up his sword, a flimsy blade he had carved out of stone, in defense. The other creature had taken him by such surprise that they could have simply grabbed him and been done with him.

But, as the being moved out into the elf's path, and the light of the billions of glow worms above them illuminated his figure somewhat, the elf found himself cocking his head in confusion. The being was no orc, no troll, and certainly no goblin. He was slender, the pointed ears of an elf, but with deep ebony black skin, and an absurdly large, wide brimmed hat with a large plume feather in it. He wore a brilliantly colorful cape, one that lit up the cavern even more as it glowed in the dark. His boots clonked loudly as he approached the elf. His eyes glowed red.

He held up his hands when the elf pointed his crude weapon at him. "I would rather not have our first meeting come to violence," he offered as he took off his hat, brushing it forward in a low bow, revealing a shiny bald head. "My name is Jarlaxle." He guesterd to his side where another figure came out of the shadows, a short, thin man with a jeweled dagger on his belt. "This is my associate, Artemis Entreri."

"Celebrimbor," the elf responded, holding his blade back as he regarded the strange elf like male and his human companion. "Why do you linger in the depth of the earth?"

"Ahh but it is the depth where my kin are most comfortable," Jarlaxle replied, his tone was calm and disarming. "But you do not seem as comfortable, my dear elf."

Celebrimbor sighed, not sure if he should tell a pair of complete strangers his story. But, as he glanced down at his rodent meal, he remembered the urgency of his hunting trip. "I must get back," he explained. "I have someone waiting for these rodents I have caught."

"A poor meal," Jarlaxle commented. "Perhaps this would be more to the liking of your kin?" He moved aside to reveal the carcass of a small cow-like creature that Celebrimbor had never seen before.

"What is that?" Celebrimbor asked, his stomach growling at the sight of such a large meal. He couldn't remember a time when his belly had been full.

"A rothe," Jarlaxle explained. "A delicacy in my land. We would be happy to dine with you this evening in exchange for some information."

Celebrimbor regarded the dark skinned elf for a moment. So it was information he wanted. The elf wondered if he had erred in letting down his guard. But the promise of a meal not only for him but also for the one he cared for was something he couldn't pass up. He sighed and guestered towards the corridor, leading the way. Entreri hoisted the rothe carcass up as he carried it along with him.