Ilythiiri looked from one to the other, eyes wide with shock, and knelt by Miriel in the mud, dirtying her expensive dress but not caring a whit. She glanced up at the king, purple eyes bright with hate. "You'll never win," she said in a low, husky voice, as though she were trying very hard not to cry. "You can beat us and shame us and treat us like animals - but you'll never win!" her voice rose shrilly and she got to her feet, not caring what he did. "We'll always be free, no matter what you can do!"

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Miriel felt an aching pain in her head. Tears ran from her eyes but not from pain. What did she do? As she tried to scramble onto her feet she cast an apoligising look to Ilythiiri. One guard grabbed her arms as another ripped the back of her dress.
With a calm voice Miriel said: "Not them.. they did no wrong..It was me.."
But she was certain her words would have no effect.

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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 whipped her head around, white-blonde hair flying out. "You did wrong?" she said incredulously, her voice still high and shrill. "You did wrong?! No! No, you didn't!" She turned back to Boromir, vaguely aware somewhere within her that her words were likely to have grave repercussions but past the point of caring. "He -" she pointed a trembling finger at Boromir " - strikes you and he gives us collars like animals and treats us as if we were, and you say you did wrong!?"

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The elf half heartedly put up a fight, as she was roughly thrown the her kness, but all it achiieved, as a slap that split her lip. Struggling for self control, she watched the happenings determidly, but as though she were not part of it. Her eyes swept around at the men and women of the court watching.
Pointedly, sheavoided her friends eyes, and bowed her head, as she felt the fabric ripped roughly away from her back. Closing her eyes, dreaming of her adventures in the darker parts of the world, where she had endured worse- But had she?
Her body flinched as the first lash came down, not even marring the smooth white back. Not a sound escaped her lips, the only movement her occaisionla flinching...

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

Ilythiiri stopped, breathing heavily, and watched in shock. She had not actually believed that the king would go through with his threat. Nobody had yet made a move to sieze her but it made no difference - she stood, frozen with shock, thinking with a vague sensation of fear that she would likely be next. She felt herself reeling and struggled not to faint.

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Miriel only shook her head, as she didn't want to say more, make things worse. She was pushed on her knees next to Rhavaniel, unware she grabbed her hand.
She closed her eyes preparing herself for what was to come and only her breathing was unregular as the sharp and incredible pain went through her body. Black spots appeared in front of her eyes but she was determind to keep her last dignity and not to faint.

_________________


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.

[Mel, feel like joining us? xD]

No erally registering as young Ilythiiri was thrown down next to her, she regarded Miriels hand on hers.
"Strength my friends... Strength for the true King..." she thought blindly, as her eyes where snapped shut after a particulary avid blow.
As time passed, the pale skin on her back marred with the thin red welts of the whip, and after many minutes, the skin broke, and streaks up blood tangled with each other as they ran in rivutls down her back.

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

[Lol why not EDIT: I have to go, don't go too far without me!]

Ilythiiri hit the ground and reality set in as the first blinding streak of pain clawed through her. She was unused to such cruelty and let out one agonized cry before she gave in and fell, limp and senseless, her dark skin very pale.

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You should pay for what you did to your friends.. shot through Miriel's mind as long minutes passed by. Every second seemed an eternity. Blood seeped down her back, as the whip continued to cut her flesh. Miriel cried soundlessly and she felt the last energy leave her body.
Let it end.. let it end she only thought, barely able not to faint by pain.


_________________

Aragorn jumped on his feet. He couldn't face this cruelty anymore.
"STOP! For pity sake stop!" He ran toward the guards but they'd already stopped at his cry.
"My Lord," Aragorn looked up to Boromir, barely controlling his trembling voice "this was enough..."


((I have to go too.. Party tonight I'll be back later ))

_________________


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.

[Have fun you two ^^ -leans back and watches thread-]

As soon as the searing pain stopped, the elf gathered her clothes protectively around her self, and looked up and over the shoulders to the man who had cried out so loudly.
She had known he would. He would be a good king.
Thankfull tof her mixed blood, the bent over Ilythiiri , the way she moved such a forceful implication to the guard, that he stumbled backwards in terror. She placed a cool hand to her brow, then did the same to Miriel.
~
Boromir stared at Aragorn, eyebrows raised. He had watched the whipping with barely concelead liking, and seeme dandered to have the display inteupted. The fiery stare lessend somewhat.
"Take care of them. Eomer arrives tomorrow morning."

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

Ilythiiri stirred and her eyes opened, quickly focusing on Rhavaniel. She immediately made to get up but fell back with a little yelp, face pale. Her lovely dress was ripped and stained red, and her eyes widened with shock when she tentatively touched her back and her fingers came back red with blood. She sucked in a long breath and squeezed her eyes shut against the pain. "Oh, oh, oh..." she said under her breath. "I want to go home..." her eyes filled with tears and she looked at the ground, ashamed.

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Half-smiling, the elf leant closer "I know how you feel... I wish for my mother so much... Yet I know I will probably never see her again."She touched the girls shoulder gingerly "Pray for home little one, and you will see it, as I see my mother in my dreams..."

_________________



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

Ilythiiri glanced up, her eyes searching Rhavaniel's face, when she looked as though she had remembered something unpleasant and turned her head sharply, seeing with a sinking heart that Boromir still remained where he was. She shrank closer to Rhavaniel. It could be seen plainly how she feared him now.

_________________

Miriel remained lying motionless on the ground. Only as she heard Aragorn's cry she turned her face slightly to look at him. She felt the touch of Rhavaniel's cool hand but she had not the wordws or the energy to respond to her. A tear ran down her cheek when she finally gasped in a whisper. "I- I am so sorry-"
--------------------------------

Aragorn pointed to two female servants who also stood in the circle of spectators and gestured them to come closer.
"Help these women to my quarters. " he said in a low whisper "Also bring me some clean blankets and warm water."
Then he turned to the King, he bowed his head slightly and said ina emotionless voice: "My Lord, this meeting did last long enough. Preparations have to be made for the feast of tommorow. Let us continue to do our duties.."
The crowd started to move again and with pain in his heart Aragorn made his way to his quarters.

_________________


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.

The elf let hersself be gently pulled to her feet by one of the women and lead, almost with a kind hand, away from the scene. She could hear her friends following.
[Anyone want to take over? ]

_________________



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

((My pc crashed again, so I can't reply now.. My sister drives me off hers Tommorow (within 8 hours) I'll be back ))

_________________


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.