Job Security
Mar. 10th, 2017 08:19 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
engarian.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
b2memB2MeM Prompt and Path:Torture, Red
Format:Short Story
Genre:crossover
Rating:PG
Warnings:Mention of torture
Characters:Aragorn, Faramir, Crossover Characters
Pairings:None
Creator’s Notes:Tolkien provided the sandbox, I merely play with the bucket and shovel he left behind. No profit of any kind is made from my fanworks.
Summary:After the defeat of Sauron, Aragorn turns to the job of ruling and rebuilding. He is visited by his Steward escorting two men who are worried about the future of their jobs - torturers in the dungeon. A tale taking some liberties with two of the characters of Dusk Peterson's Eternal Dungeon, with my thanks for writing such an amazing universe.
Job Security
Faramir knocked at the study door. When "Enter” sounded from within, he pulled the carved wooden panel open and ushered his companions into the room. At the far end, seated at a desk filled with paperwork, quills, ink pots, sand shakers and open books, sat the King, looking a little frustrated. Aragorn glanced up as Faramir approached.
“My Lord,” Faramir began. “I bring two companions with me who wish a word with you.”
Aragorn cast a sharp look at his Steward, then focused on the two men standing respectfully, in partially hidden in shadow. He beckoned, waving them forward. “Come closer. You look somewhat familiar. … Smith, isn’t it?”
“Yes, Sire," he bowed and moved closer when Aragorn waved them forward. "Layle Smith and my companion is Elsdon Taylor. I felt I needed to speak to you and find out whether you will want us to continue in our jobs or, indeed, whether you will have any need for our services at all.”
“You are two of the Minas Tirith Torturers. I remember you now,” Aragorn said. He switched his focus to Faramir. “Have you ever been to the torture chambers?”
“Me? No, Sire. I actually forgot that we had such chambers here in Minas Tirith.”
“It’s actually a separate building on its own, similar to the Houses of Healing. It’s built into the mountain for security since the prisoners kept there are usually the most violent and dangerous.” Aragorn turned back to Masters Smith and Taylor. “I assume you are still in operation?”
“Yes, we have not stopped keeping our equipment in good condition and ready for use at any time," the tall blond who had identified himself as Layle Smith spoke. His dark haired companion nodded. Master Smith continued, "But I do wonder if you will be keeping us on, now that you have reclaimed the throne. If you close the prison, the staff will have to seek new employment and that could take some time.”
“Faramir, I think a visit is in order. Come, Masters. Please show us your torture chambers and your dungeon. I think it could be quite interesting, and I will have a much better idea about whether or not to keep it active, shut it down, or change its function.” Aragorn stood from his chair and, throwing a cloak over his shoulders, indicated that the two torturers should lead the way. Two guards fell into step behind the King.
The small procession walked through the Citadel to the far end to an innocuous door. The King and Steward were then led through the door and down a stairway into a large chamber with a separate entry that led directly out into a back passageway of Minas Tirith's 8th Level. Aragorn’s guards looked around with unease as the two torturers escorted their liege toward the back of the room and an ebony double-door, which was standing open.
They entered another hallway, this one wide enough for three men to walk abreast and featuring smaller chambers built around a central core. The door to each chamber stood open. These holding cells were comfortable, if spartan, containing a bed shelf with a thin mattress, a stone shelf and an iron ring cemented high in the wall and used to secure a prisoner for flogging. Several larger rooms off a side passage held racks and other implements of torture.
After their tour, the four men sat in the common room, cups of tea in front of them. Aragorn looked at the two torturers and asked, “What was the goal of your jobs? Were you merely supposed to give pain and break the prisoner, getting a confession by any means possible? Or were you supposed to help the prisoner in some way?”
“Our job was, and still is, to discover truth. When there is doubt in a case, when there is conflicting testimony in front of the Judicators, our assignment is to determine the truth and separate it from any falsehoods. To do that we speak to the prisoners; we question them, and we listen very carefully to their answers. When necessary, we employ torture to get the prisoner to focus on what we are asking. All of us who torture must be fully aware of what we ask our prisoners to undergo. Each of us has undergone methods of torture in exactly the same ways, amounts, and durations that we use on our charges. Because of this, we understand how far we can take each prisoner and how to avoid inflicting more harm than necessary. After we have discovered the truth, we return the prisoners to the Judicators, present the evidence, and await their sentencing decision. It their decision is death, we return the prisoner here, bring him to our execution chamber and carry out the decision of law. Always, Sire, always our ultimate goal is a truthful telling.”
“To tell true,” Aragorn mused. “I think I’ll have little use for a staff of torturers, although I'm sure there will be occasional need. However, I do have great need for people who can listen to the concerns of others and help them help themselves. It sounds as if you are already doing that, in your own way, although you added the whip and rack alongside your ears.”
He took a deep drink of his tea, carefully placed the cup onto the table, and leaned forward focusing directly at Master Smith. “Do you think you could operate as a counselor, to help those who have been scarred by battles fought over the years or by the Black Breath? Could you turn your talents to healing instead of harm and assist those who can barely sleep because of the nightmares they experienced?”
“I think I would like to try, Sire,” the torturer said. “But this is my home, where I have lived for most of my life.” Next to him, Master Taylor was nodding acquiescence again. “Would we have to move? I have built a good life as the Head Torturer and Master Taylor and the others, both torturers and guards, have been faithful employees. Must we close down the dungeon?”
“No,” the King said. “I think the dungeon will still be able to operate as a secure hospital now, and as a prison when necessary, but actual torture will probably be a thing of the past. Yet, I can see that as much as I might wish for a perfect future, there may come times when I will need your skills with a whip and the rack."
Format:Short Story
Genre:crossover
Rating:PG
Warnings:Mention of torture
Characters:Aragorn, Faramir, Crossover Characters
Pairings:None
Creator’s Notes:Tolkien provided the sandbox, I merely play with the bucket and shovel he left behind. No profit of any kind is made from my fanworks.
Summary:After the defeat of Sauron, Aragorn turns to the job of ruling and rebuilding. He is visited by his Steward escorting two men who are worried about the future of their jobs - torturers in the dungeon. A tale taking some liberties with two of the characters of Dusk Peterson's Eternal Dungeon, with my thanks for writing such an amazing universe.
Job Security
Faramir knocked at the study door. When "Enter” sounded from within, he pulled the carved wooden panel open and ushered his companions into the room. At the far end, seated at a desk filled with paperwork, quills, ink pots, sand shakers and open books, sat the King, looking a little frustrated. Aragorn glanced up as Faramir approached.
“My Lord,” Faramir began. “I bring two companions with me who wish a word with you.”
Aragorn cast a sharp look at his Steward, then focused on the two men standing respectfully, in partially hidden in shadow. He beckoned, waving them forward. “Come closer. You look somewhat familiar. … Smith, isn’t it?”
“Yes, Sire," he bowed and moved closer when Aragorn waved them forward. "Layle Smith and my companion is Elsdon Taylor. I felt I needed to speak to you and find out whether you will want us to continue in our jobs or, indeed, whether you will have any need for our services at all.”
“You are two of the Minas Tirith Torturers. I remember you now,” Aragorn said. He switched his focus to Faramir. “Have you ever been to the torture chambers?”
“Me? No, Sire. I actually forgot that we had such chambers here in Minas Tirith.”
“It’s actually a separate building on its own, similar to the Houses of Healing. It’s built into the mountain for security since the prisoners kept there are usually the most violent and dangerous.” Aragorn turned back to Masters Smith and Taylor. “I assume you are still in operation?”
“Yes, we have not stopped keeping our equipment in good condition and ready for use at any time," the tall blond who had identified himself as Layle Smith spoke. His dark haired companion nodded. Master Smith continued, "But I do wonder if you will be keeping us on, now that you have reclaimed the throne. If you close the prison, the staff will have to seek new employment and that could take some time.”
“Faramir, I think a visit is in order. Come, Masters. Please show us your torture chambers and your dungeon. I think it could be quite interesting, and I will have a much better idea about whether or not to keep it active, shut it down, or change its function.” Aragorn stood from his chair and, throwing a cloak over his shoulders, indicated that the two torturers should lead the way. Two guards fell into step behind the King.
The small procession walked through the Citadel to the far end to an innocuous door. The King and Steward were then led through the door and down a stairway into a large chamber with a separate entry that led directly out into a back passageway of Minas Tirith's 8th Level. Aragorn’s guards looked around with unease as the two torturers escorted their liege toward the back of the room and an ebony double-door, which was standing open.
They entered another hallway, this one wide enough for three men to walk abreast and featuring smaller chambers built around a central core. The door to each chamber stood open. These holding cells were comfortable, if spartan, containing a bed shelf with a thin mattress, a stone shelf and an iron ring cemented high in the wall and used to secure a prisoner for flogging. Several larger rooms off a side passage held racks and other implements of torture.
After their tour, the four men sat in the common room, cups of tea in front of them. Aragorn looked at the two torturers and asked, “What was the goal of your jobs? Were you merely supposed to give pain and break the prisoner, getting a confession by any means possible? Or were you supposed to help the prisoner in some way?”
“Our job was, and still is, to discover truth. When there is doubt in a case, when there is conflicting testimony in front of the Judicators, our assignment is to determine the truth and separate it from any falsehoods. To do that we speak to the prisoners; we question them, and we listen very carefully to their answers. When necessary, we employ torture to get the prisoner to focus on what we are asking. All of us who torture must be fully aware of what we ask our prisoners to undergo. Each of us has undergone methods of torture in exactly the same ways, amounts, and durations that we use on our charges. Because of this, we understand how far we can take each prisoner and how to avoid inflicting more harm than necessary. After we have discovered the truth, we return the prisoners to the Judicators, present the evidence, and await their sentencing decision. It their decision is death, we return the prisoner here, bring him to our execution chamber and carry out the decision of law. Always, Sire, always our ultimate goal is a truthful telling.”
“To tell true,” Aragorn mused. “I think I’ll have little use for a staff of torturers, although I'm sure there will be occasional need. However, I do have great need for people who can listen to the concerns of others and help them help themselves. It sounds as if you are already doing that, in your own way, although you added the whip and rack alongside your ears.”
He took a deep drink of his tea, carefully placed the cup onto the table, and leaned forward focusing directly at Master Smith. “Do you think you could operate as a counselor, to help those who have been scarred by battles fought over the years or by the Black Breath? Could you turn your talents to healing instead of harm and assist those who can barely sleep because of the nightmares they experienced?”
“I think I would like to try, Sire,” the torturer said. “But this is my home, where I have lived for most of my life.” Next to him, Master Taylor was nodding acquiescence again. “Would we have to move? I have built a good life as the Head Torturer and Master Taylor and the others, both torturers and guards, have been faithful employees. Must we close down the dungeon?”
“No,” the King said. “I think the dungeon will still be able to operate as a secure hospital now, and as a prison when necessary, but actual torture will probably be a thing of the past. Yet, I can see that as much as I might wish for a perfect future, there may come times when I will need your skills with a whip and the rack."
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2017-03-11 02:38 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-03-11 10:20 am (UTC)- Erulisse (one L)
no subject
Date: 2017-03-11 05:26 am (UTC)And how interesting to see Layle and Elsdon placed in an earlier era, since my original daydreamed tales of The Eternal Dungeon were set in a quasi-medieval dungeon. May I have permission to link to your story at my website and social media?
no subject
Date: 2017-03-11 10:26 am (UTC)I ADORE your Eternal Dungeon, my only disappointment being that "Sweet Blood" never seemed to see the light of day. Of course I took some liberties with your fabulous characters - not least of which was the timeline, but also their lack of hoods and their ability to leave the dungeon. That you didn't get angered at my borrowing Lalye and Elsdon just made my 4:00 am Saturday morning even better!
Link, mention, all of it is good. I am totally honored that you enjoyed my tale. Thank you!
- Erulisse (one L)
no subject
Date: 2017-03-12 03:42 am (UTC)Are you kidding? I have a section of my website that's entitled "My Quiet Plea for More Fan Works of My Stories." Yours is the first fanwork of my fic to come my way for several years; you should have heard my shout of joy when the notice of your story hit my inbox.
And you needn't worry about AU changes from my canon. My entire series is AU. :)
"my only disappointment being that 'Sweet Blood' never seemed to see the light of day."
As you may have figured out by now (since you Friended me), I'm gradually posting the Sweet Blood stories at AO3 this year. I've actually had four out of the five stories in that volume published for a while now, but it's taken me far too long to get the fifth story out. I gather from your blog that you managed to whip together "Job Security" in a single day; I envy you!
no subject
Date: 2017-03-12 04:34 pm (UTC)*hugs* to you for such an amazing universe. You have no idea how often my thoughts turn back to the Dungeon and the characters or specific scenes you've put into those walls.
- Erulisse (one L)
no subject
Date: 2017-03-11 10:25 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-03-11 11:29 am (UTC)- Erulisse (one L)
no subject
Date: 2017-03-11 12:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-03-11 02:50 pm (UTC)Thanks for reading and your comments. I noticed that you had been ill, and I'm so happy you're feeling better.
- Erulisse (one L)
no subject
Date: 2017-03-11 04:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-03-11 10:30 pm (UTC)- Erulisse (one L)
no subject
Date: 2017-03-11 11:03 pm (UTC)And rather than move them out of their well established lives, just change the emphasis.
I don't know the characters from 'The Eternal Dungeon'. But it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story.
no subject
Date: 2017-03-12 01:48 am (UTC)Using his characters allowed me to explore a different career path for these men, counselors and guides for deeply troubled veteran soldiers who are experiencing their own version of PTSD.
Thank you so much for your comments and for reading the tale. I appreciate that you took the time to share your thoughts with me.
- Erulisse (one L)
no subject
Date: 2017-03-12 06:31 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-03-12 04:38 pm (UTC)I appreciate your taking time to read and comment, my dear. As always, *hugs* to you!
- Erulisse (one L)