Ilythiiri gave a brief smile and fastened a few hooks that Miriel had missed. "Is that better?"
She fidgeted a little, chewing her bottom lip and looking at the ground. "I don't understand..." she said after a minute. "What's happening, again, that suddenly we're supposed to be so pretty?"

_________________

"Thank you.." Miriel gave Ilythiiri a grateful smile.
"I do understand." she said after she sat down on the floor, her fingers playing with her long locks. "That man said King Eomer would arrive. Of course his arrival has to be celebrated with a banquet but in the mean time Boromir wants to impress Eomer with all the wealth of his kingdom."
She paused for a moment. "I only do not understand where we fit in.. Rohan never approved slavery.."

_________________


O children, lift up your voice, lift up your voice,
Children, rejoice, rejoice..



It doesn't matter you don't believe in God, He believes in you.

Ilythiiri looked quite doubtful. "I don't know if the King of Rohan - what did you say his name was? Eomer? - will really appreciate what Boromir is trying to do, won't he just be, I don't know, shocked that Gondor's done this? I don't think he'll be very impressed, especially not with Rhavaniel, because Rohan has always been friendly with the elves, haven't they?"

_________________

Miriel nodded. "They have.. Yes.. Eomer is king of Rohan. He is a good king. I actually have met him many years ago, when I still travelled with my brother-" she stopped abrubtly but after a short pause continued: "Eomer will certainly not appreciate this.."

_________________


O children, lift up your voice, lift up your voice,
Children, rejoice, rejoice..



It doesn't matter you don't believe in God, He believes in you.

"Do not speak of such things here... Who knows who may be watching..."
Her voice trailed off, as she roughly wiped away her tears.
"Keep a sharp eyes my friends..." with that she slipped out again, pleased at the way the had seen the sitiuation. A rough plan was forming in her mind. She spoke not of it, for fear of unfriendly eyes on the lookout.

_________________



. O r b i s N o n S u f f i c i t .

Miriel looked at Rhavaniel. "I will.." She tried to keep herself strong in front of her friends, she couldn't loose it now.
"Where do they need us for..?" she asked in a whisper, keeping her voice down.

_________________


O children, lift up your voice, lift up your voice,
Children, rejoice, rejoice..



It doesn't matter you don't believe in God, He believes in you.

"God only knows... And if you get a chance to ask him, add the fact that we would like to get out of here..."
She smiled sadly through the cloth, letting herself be lead under scowls, and ugly looks from the women in the room.

_________________



. O r b i s N o n S u f f i c i t .

Ilythiiri sprang to her feet and pushed back the curtain, almost in full-blown panic mode now. "Where are you going?" she cried after Rhavaniel, purple eyes huge in her pale face.

_________________

"He doesn't answer me.." Miriel whispered and she stood up, gently took Ilythiiri's hand, followed Rhavaniel and continued in a low whisper "For I've have called for Him many times.. yet I've always remained here."

_________________


O children, lift up your voice, lift up your voice,
Children, rejoice, rejoice..



It doesn't matter you don't believe in God, He believes in you.

Ilythiiri did not answer, merely followed, her eyes on the ground. Her hair had not been attended to, and was a wild bushy halo around her dark-skinned face. She glanced up to see Rhavaniel ahead of them, and wondered where they were going.

_________________

Which was exactly what Rhavaniel was wondering. Tamely, she followed the guard in front of her, craning her long neck to see over his shoulder, and further along the coridore.

_________________



. O r b i s N o n S u f f i c i t .

Miriel stayed close to Rhavaniel, as she didn't want her friend to be separated again. She wondered if they were taken to the King.. or maybe to Eomer? Nervously her eyes flashed from the guard to the end of the coridore, once in a while looking back to cast a comforting glance at Ilythiiri.

_________________


O children, lift up your voice, lift up your voice,
Children, rejoice, rejoice..



It doesn't matter you don't believe in God, He believes in you.

Ilythiiri did not smile back, but nor did she frown, merely padded after her friends, bare feet making almost no sound on the stone floor. She shivered a little; partly from the poor protection the flimsy dress made against the cold stone walls and partly from apprehension.

_________________

Boromir had called for a brief assembly in the royal courtyard. When all the palace officials were gathered, he called his slaves to his side.
"I have a gift for my slaves," Boromir announced; Rhavaniel showed no expression, and kept her eyes to the floor. Boromir drew out a box, and opened it; he carefully removed what lay inside, and held it up for the assembly to see.
It was a collar. About an inch wide, it was wrought of fine gold, which shone brilliantly in the sunlight. Words were engraved along the outer rim: the elf's name, identifying her as property of Boromir son of Denethor, King of Anorién. Jewels were set along the outer band in the spaces between the words; they glinted like star-eyes. There was a lock on the back of the collar, where the two halves snapped together.
Boromir signalled for her to come near to him, and he slipped the collar around the elf’s neck. The lock clicked shut, and the collar was a good fit — it was not loose, and held firmly around Rhavaniel’s neck, but yet not so tight that it marked her flesh.
A slave collar? This was rare even in Minas Tirith; and the fine quality of the collar only made the mockery of it all the more stark.
"It is a perfect fit." Boromir stepped back and surveyed her with approval. "A fine adornment for one so fair — and a fair warning to all to keep their hands off my property." There was a titter of apprehensive laughter in response; the audience perceived that Boromir was serious about his threat.
Waving his hand imaptiently for each woman, he held up again, spectacular rings of silver that shimmered in the light, and caught the suns rays. With sword-worn Hands, he reached around, and fastned the collars tight around their necks.
Briefly he turned to the elf again, obviously wanting to say something- yet no words came out. She stood there quietly, head bowed in submission, watching the shadows on the ground.
"And as for you," Boromir turned to all three women, and a flicker of intense emotion crossed the king’s face. "Know the worth of your beauty and the pleasure you bring me — for no slave in this land has ever received such an expensive gift. But let this also be a reminder of whom you belong to."
She remained silent, and kept his eyes downcast.
"Do you hear my words?" Boromir repeated meaningfully, an ominous tone creeping into his voice.
"Yes... master." Rhavaniel's voice was strained.
"Very well." Boromir was satisfied. The king reached for Rhavaniel once more — fingering the silky locks of her hair, he drew the elf closer, looked her sternly in the eyes, hand wrapped around the back of her neck, then pushed her away again.
After the officials left the court and the slaves had been dismissed, Tiaru remained. He had a slight frown on his face, and he leaned in to speak to his leage; Aragorn, who was standing just next to them, could hear the conversation.
"Collars, Boromir?" Tiaru asked. "Is it necessary to label them in such a manner, even if they are yours?"
"It is a warning to anyone who might be bold enough to lay his hand on my elf and her companions," Boromir replied. "And they should by now realise that it is fruitless to resist any further. I have broken her stubbornness."
"That you certainly have," Tiaru answered in a reproving tone. "And you have also broken their spirit."

_________________



. O r b i s N o n S u f f i c i t .

Miriel bit her lip as she stood before Boromir, her eyes were closed because she couldn't bear to look at her friends or Aragorn. A light shivering went through her body as he fastened the silver ring, like a symbol of slavery around her neck. Her eyes held a cold gaze and she didn't look away as Boromir stood before her
As he commanded them to ackknowledge him as master and king she kept stil. But when she heard Rhavaniel's quiet voice Miriel spit before Boromir's feet and she heard the other men present gasp for breath, but she quiet, awaiting Boromir's reaction.

_________________


O children, lift up your voice, lift up your voice,
Children, rejoice, rejoice..



It doesn't matter you don't believe in God, He believes in you.

His reaction was a fast backhand across her face, sending her flying into the mud at his feet.
"You dare still mock me? Girl?" his voice thundered dangerously through the courtyard, and the oficials drew visibly back.
Without waiting for an answer he turned on Aragorn "I want her whipped."
Tiaru broke in, his voice strained" Surely not my liege... She is merely tired... Forgive this once, she was merely trying to protect her friends..."
At this the Kings face darkend further. "Her Friends? Have them whipped as well!" he turned on Aragorn "Now."
Rhavaniel shot Miriel a worried glance, but said nothing, unwilling to feel pain again.

_________________



. O r b i s N o n S u f f i c i t .