Chapter 13
"Let us start small...what is their name?" Legolas questioned, watching how Draco immediately tensed at something so simple. He sighed, he already knew what that meant. Draco's fingers trembled as they pulled at the blanket that he was hiding underneath. He did not want to push, not at something that was clearly such a sore topic, but he also knew that they had to figure out who this person was, for good or for worse. He just hoped they did not end up breaking the boy while they attempted to figure things out. He had a feeling they would, though, and Legolas was not sure what to think about it.
"He went by a moniker," Draco said softly, his voice barely louder than a whisper. "None would dare say his true name, if they knew it at all...and for most he was simply called 'lord'. There was...well not everyone was aware at first, but public displays naturally kept anyone from addressing him other than how he wished." Draco's voice dropped, fingers tangling themselves into the blanket now. He continued to look down, not wanting or daring to look up.
"So you do not know his true name?" Elrond pressed. Draco's eyes glanced up briefly, catching Elrond's own just a second before the unnatural colors were dropped back down to the blanket once more.
"no, your majesty," Draco said softly. "None knew, and if they did, none would dare disobey his command to be called otherwise." That certainly made things a tad bit more complicated. Legolas wondered what it was like not knowing your master's true name. The one who held your life in your hands and yet you did not know something as simple as a name.
"Very well, these...marks that he gave...is yours any different from others that you have seen?" Draco tilted his head slightly, confused.
"I...Was the youngest..." He began slowly, as if trying to figure out what Legolas' question was, and come up with the proper way to answer, yet uncertain about what it could be. "None but one was marked as young as I was, it was...I do not know. A lesson, a warning, an honor. Perhaps all at once. After I was marked I was not really allowed to see anyone, not until I returned to school." Draco's fingers released the blanket forcefully. "And none at school could be allowed to see such a thing. It would set a dangerous precedent." The words were whispered, and Draco's eyes glanced around, worried. As if he was betraying something. Legolas supposed in a way he was.
"Have you ever seen a mark on anyone barring yourself?"
"Yes," Draco responded stiffly. "My father...and my godfather."
"What of your mother?" Elrond asked carefully.
"Mother was never part...not officially. Though her marriage to father ensured that she did not have to be." Draco bit his lower lip, getting more and more uncomfortable about these questions. They did not seem to have anything to do with removing his mark at all.
"I have an idea that may work, but I will not lie to you, it will be unbearably painful." Elrond said simply, dropping into a seat. Draco's eyes refused to meet the Lord's. "But before anything else, I wish to know how this mark was applied."
"The Dark Lord grabs your arm, and uses his magic to brand your skin. It is a very painful procedure, that practically bleeds into your blood, veins, and magic, forever tainting it. None have dared to try and remove it." Draco's voice was hushed once more, fear clinging to the very idea of even trying. "I do not think it is possible to be done, but if Lord Elrond wishes to try, I would not begrudge or refuse."
No...He would not. That was the problem. Elrond took a steadying breath, he stood abruptly, leaving the humanoid to flinch at his approach. "Your arm, Draco," The boy's lips trembled, tears gathered at his eyes, but he obeyed, and Elrond almost felt sick at the thought. Just what was done to this boy. "Legolas, come, I will need your aid." Legolas moved immediately towards the Imladris lord's side. "This will be painful," The Lord whispered once more, but Draco did not seem to even hear him. A sigh, and then pain. The boy's screams...
Legolas was certain the pain filled screams were going to haunt his nightmares. The way his body arched and twisted as Elrond worked healing magic and forced it through his system, almost violently as it chased the dark taint that clung to the boy's body. It was working, though, and even the blindest elf would be able to see how the boy's aura slowly began to clean itself from the darkness that tainted it, how the mark slowly greyed until it was unable to be seen.
He was not sure how long it took, but it was long after Draco's voice gave up, his screams stopping abruptly, and his body flopping as pain still rushed through it viciously, giving no recourse, no hope to escape. Tears flooded down the boy's face but no sound was made, his body still twitched and twisted.
"It is done," Lord Elrond said abruptly, dropping the boy gently into the bed, and a few magic whispers and he was asleep. A frown pulled at Elrond's features. "he will need to be carefully watched. I managed to purge the taint from his soul, but I know not the long term effects this could have. He will likely be delirious and maybe even further confused when he wakes." Elrond sighed. "I wish I could have put him to sleep whilst it was happening," The confession left Legolas feeling discomforted. "He will wake eventually, I shall return in the evening to assess him, and send you to dinner." The Lord did not wait for Legolas to say a word before he was gone.
Legolas pulled the blanket up, gently tucking him in the bed, brushing silver strands from his forehead, damp as they were. He wished he had a rag, so that he may clean the boy's sweat from his brow, but he did not.