(TW: Attempted Rape/Non-con)
The ellon raised his head for the first time.
His face faintly illuminated by the candlelight revealed nothing, but Nethien had traced those features with her fingertips to the point she had memorized every line.
Perhaps this was why her eyes immediately went to the new ones marring the fine features. The guilt was unbearable.
The young captain gave a dismissing wave of his hand. Nethien was shoved inside unceremoniously and almost fell.
The door was locked behind her.
"Why are you still wearing white, and the mourning veil? Your brother is alive."
There were some traces of genuine curiosity in his voice, which surprised Nethien.
Why do you still care? She wanted to scream, but could not find her voice.
Why have you brought me here? Still, silence.
Instead, she found herself answering him.
"I had lost two kings, my father, eldest and youngest brothers. I have no other color in my wardrobe."
He cackled like a madman, holding onto one of the abandoned furniture for support until he had calmed down.
He looked at her once more, the brightness of his eyes, though diminished like the rest of them, shone with all its vigor at that moment.
It terrified her and beaconed her towards it like a moth to the flame. She knew the dangers well.
"Tsk tsk tsk, so stubborn, my princess. Always so stubborn. Did not your father die just as he arrived? Findekàno said it wasn't even a week after you lot burned the ships and Umbarto in it. If my memory does not fail me, it was more than three decades ago, even though it felt longer. Why do you mourn them still?"
So this was why she was there, so he can add salt to her wounds? She didn't have to take this.
Her emotionless gaze bore at the smiling ellon's face.
"Tell your lackeys to open the door before I wake up the whole stronghold. I've had enough of you. Come seek me again if you have something worthwhile to say."
Arhesto's eyes hardened ever so slightly, not noticeable for the eyes who knew not what to seek.
"Who would come to your rescue, Vilvarinya? Your brothers are miles away, on the other side of the lake. The people here would watch you burn before they offer a helping hand to a traitor."
He had never called her with her favorite pet name with as much disgust and hate. Nethien took a hesitant step back before composing herself.
"I'm sure Findekàno would appreciate you keeping a political guest hostage in a room. A maiden who is as good as a stranger to you, no less. If you're looking for even more scandals, find someone else. I'm out of here."
Arhesto tasted the word in his mouth like it was a bitter medicine, before taking a step forward.
Nethien wanted to run away.
The remaining distance between them was filled ever so slowly. The alcohol might not have affected his speech, but Arhesto was a clumsy drunk and it showed in his steps as he stumbled forward and clashed with her.
The stench of alcohol breath was unbearable, and Nethien would have gotten away if she could. Her back was to the door and her exhausted mind reacted too late for her.
Arhesto's hand circled around her arms, holding her in place. The only thing she could do was to turn her head to the side and breathe through her mouth.
His hands strayed further up and cupped her cheeks, turning her face upwards so she was facing him once more. The gentleness surprised her, even though her face did not betray it.
He pulled away from her, searching in his pockets for something.
A sinister smirk lit up his face, and Nethien frowned.
"You left this behind. I kept it so I could give it back."
The silver ring shone innocently in Arhesto's palm, and Nethien had to swallow down the bile in her throat.
She could see its more well worn pair on her betrothed's finger. The only time she ever crafted anything for anyone, and the biggest regret of her life.
"Go on, take it. I want to see it back on your hand."
The cheerful voice of the man she loved echoed in the silent room, and her gaze finally snapped back at him.
She turned away from him again, and did not answer.
A liar she would not be. She left it behind for a reason, and Arhesto knew it well to not have been an unfortunate accident.
They were estranged even before Fëanor and Nerdanel were. It just took longer for them to realize.
"What now? So shy all of a sudden? Where is my bold nís?"
The tone sent shivers down her back much like it used to in the past, but this time, it was out of fear.
Why was he acting like nothing had happened?
"Very well then. You leave me no choice."
The wrist of her left hand was taken in a vise grip, and Nethien gasped before struggling to free herself.
"Stop it! What is wrong with you?!"
Arhesto was deaf to her screams, eyes focused on the ring as he brought it closer to her index finger.
"I said let me go! I don't want it! I don't want you!"
Her hand was released and her back hit the door.
The sound of the ring clattering on the ground was heard, but the only thing she could look at was Arhesto's eyes and watch as the dam slowly broke down. She had angered him.
"And who said you have a choice? Do you think I want it? Want you? A murderer and a traitor? I'm doing it for my King. Yes…doing it for my King."
The last words were whispered, more to himself than Nethien.
What did he mean by that? What did Fingolfin have to do with this madness?
"What…what do you mean? What does uncle have to do with this?"
Arhesto's glazed gaze refocused, and the smirk from earlier returned. He filled the distance between them once more, and held her close in his arms, almost tenderly.
The sudden changes in his demeanor had her head spinning, but she dared not move again in fear of angering him even more.
"The King asked me today to take up the oath I took once. I will not put him down. I never had, and I never will. A traitor you are, my love, but I shall bear with it. I will marry you as my King asked me to do."
The single tear she didn't realize she had shed was wiped away by Arhesto's thumb on her cheek.
"Don't cry. It's too late and too early for that."
His joyful tone brought chills to her lightly clad limbs.
His embrace had never felt so cold.
"And what if I don't? What would you do then?"
Nethien's voice did not waver as she thought it might. Neither did her gaze from the suddenly thoughtful expression on Arhesto's face.
"Well…we just have to make sure you can't refuse."
He mused, and his hand snatched away the white silken veil covering her hair.
Her eyes widened once she realized his intentions, and her hand went to her pocket without a second thought.
She cared not for the consequences of any finding out she carried a weapon with herself. She had to get away from there.
But before she could do as much as touch the hilt, her wrist was captured in a grip so tight she could not hold back the wince of pain.
"I can read you like an open book, my little she-wolf. Or should I say lamb? For what is a she-wolf without her teeth and claws?"
Nethien screamed, and would have fallen down if Arhesto had not caught her. Her wrist cradled against her chest, she could only struggle weakly and cry in pain as she was carried away.
Arhesto could barely balance himself, and every time he stumbled, Nethien's wrist throbbed viscously. At last, she was thrown on an old, dusty mattress.
Pain shot through her whole body and she rolled away to offer her poor broken bone some relief. She was facing him then. The look in his eyes had her frozen in fear.
"Now see what you made me do? It didn't have to be like this. You could have enjoyed it too."
He knelt, his hands moving towards her skirt, and as if a switch was turned, she began trashing and kicking, her voice which had been silenced until then rising up.
"Come closer and I scream! Don't touch me!"
Her ankle was captured before it hit Arhesto on the chin, and she screamed until her throat was raw.
"Told you, no one would hear your pleas."
The lock clicked, and the door was slammed open.
"What is going on here?!"
Finrod yelled, running inside, followed by Turgon.
Arhesto wasn't quick enough to catch the other foot coming at his face this time.
