What Would We Lose?

Disclaimer: I do not own any of Tolkiens magnificant works nor am I getting paid for this. None of the characters are mine except Caimac (OC), andNerdanel...whose name is from the Sillamarian but based on a character I made up...so she's mine. Again...I don't own any of the original character.

Rated: PG-13 some voilence torture and cursing...not good for the little ones.

Summary: A close friend of Legolas' is in the hands of humans who want power over the Elven Kingdoms. How long will it take for them to gain the information they seek? how long will it take for that friend to be saved? How far will the bonds of friendship and duty go to keep that information safe?

Chapter 1: For The Ones We love

In memories we will hide

The basic things that keep friends alive

But just how far will this bond go?

A rue smile weakly played on the persons' lips as a trail of blood caked their chin. A slender beaten body hung heavily on manacled wrists. The cold metal bit into the skin around the wrists drawing blood but the pain was lost to them. Pain was the only thing that existed. A tattered shift and torn pants hung loosely on the bony form that showed individual ribs, and bones through translucent skin. The cloth whispered as the body moved gently. The darkness surrounded the as the chains clinked against the wall when they moved. The sounds of footsteps grew closer as well as a flickering like and the strange person cocked their head to one side listening. Matted hair obscured their face and covered welts and bruises. The footsteps stopped and the beaten person laid their eyes on the feet of the intruders. The bright flare of fire lighting the cave causing the prisoner to squint in the light for a moment.

"You'd better speak up whelp. We're tired of this." A gruff voice whispered harshly grabbing on to the persons hair and gave it a painful yank revealing their full face…the face of an Elf.

A slight chuckle escaped the broken lips of the Elf which angered the men. The man holding the Elf's hair bashed their head into the wall. Stars flickered in the Elf's eyes as darkness closed it. But they still held on.

"I'll ask you again Nerdanel. Where is your prince? You want to be out of this hell don't you?" another man asked putting a blade level to the Elf's throat.

"I would die before telling you where my prince is." The Elf spat on the men's boots as they spoke. "There is nothing you can do to make me say what you want."

"There are ways to make the mighty mountains bow and so will you." The man pressed the blade into the Elf's delicate skin drawing blood.

"There is nothing that you can do that you haven't already." Cold eyes looked at the men from behind the dark hair as a hiss escaped the Elf's lips.

Tired of Nerdanel's incompetence one of the men rushed forward and kicked the Elf repeatedly in the abdomen. The hobnail boots bit into the skin and broke ribs as the Elf tried to protect them self. Evading the blows did little, the chains made escape impossible and only proved to aid the men in their amusement. They backed the Elf closer to the wall and kicked more fiercely.

"Stop." a captain commanded as the men backed away from the Elf making way. "Draug, do you really want to kill her early in the game?" The cloak that covered the man flowed behind him making a whisper of wind as he walked over to the Elf.

"But Captain Caimac-" the soldier was cut off.

"So sad that such a beautiful creature is reduced to this. It didn't have to be this way. But then again all she-Elves will be sorceresses till the end."

The Elf curled into a protective position trying to support her broken body. Blood flowed freely as she looked at the man with contempt. Any movement she made sent a fresh wave of pain across her senses.

Getting close to Nerdanel, Caimac caught her hands above her head leaving her vulnerable. She tried to pull away but with no avail. He got close to her face and whispered into her ears, his hot breath causing the hair on the back of her neck to stand up.

"Maybe we can take away the points of your ears. They are precious to you are they not? Maybe that will convince you enough. We will be back. There will be no escaping it." His voice was dangerous and spoke the truth.

"Never." The elf hissed her voice racked with pain.

"We'll see about that." The captain let the girl's hands go which jarred her broken body. She hissed in pain but wouldn't cry out. 'Damn elves…' "Men let's go. We'll come back

Nerdanel watched the men leave on by one making sure all had left. Darkness surrounded her heart again as she was left alone. She knew that no one was going to come for her. Valar knew that she was doomed to die any way. A tremor ran through her body causing a cry to escape her lips. She was dying slowly, she knew that much. But no matter she would still keep her lords secret. They must never know of whom she was associated with. Another wave of pain crashed over her mentality as her breathing hitched becoming harsh and uneven. She looked to the ceiling wishing she could see the sun, or the moon lit sky that she had not seen for months. Maybe it would give her enough hope to last a little longer.

"Mankoi? Why? Lle amin? Do you hear me? My lord and prince and friend…won't you come to find me?" she whispered to the darkness as the void of unconsciousness enveloped her.

The birds sang sweetly in the trees as light dappled through the leaves spotting the ground. The shadows danced slowly as a wind blew softly through the trees. Laughter rang like bells through the trees as two young Elves bounded through the woods on horse back. One had long sunlight blonde hair, his eyes of grey glittered with joy as he rode on the brown mare bareback. Behind him a girl followed brown hair flowing behind as she smiled urging her black mare faster. They laughed as they evaded the guards that trailed behind them.

"Hurry before they catch us. You know they don't like it when the prince runs off." The girl goaded as her horse ran beside the prince's steed.

"Well at least I have reason. They follow me everywhere." The blonde haired teen smiled as he looked over his shoulder, his hair tangling in the wind.

"Well Prince Legolas this is a first. You running away from your guards…your father will be furious." The girl looked over her shoulder as well seeing the guards barely behind them. "We should stop before they get angry…I mean we are just leading them home…a different way."

"I ran away? I believe it was you mellon nin that decided we should run. And you're supposed to be a good influence on me Nerdanel." Legolas slowed his mount down grinning broadly at the Elf beside him.

"I'm sorry my lord. I didn't mean to be so insolent…it won't happen again I promise." The girl bowed her head as if she were actually sorry for wanting to have fun.

"There is no need to be sorry. You did nothing wrong. Actually you did exactly what I wanted to do…get away…be free…away from them." The prince smiled as he got off his horse, letting it rest before they had to leave again.

The girl dismounted as well letting her horse join the other. "Is it really that bad? Being prince and all?" she kept her distance not wanting to intrude on the royalty's thoughts.

The prince sighed letting his normally proud shoulders drop for a moment as he fell to the ground unceremoniously. "My father wants me to be someone that I don't want to be. If he saw me now…Valar what he would say." He smoothed his silver clothes out.

Nerdanel sat down beside him, trying to be as modest as possible when wearing a dress, one type of apparel she never wore often, but something she had to wear in the presence of the royals. Normally she was just a servant in the household, but she was also supposed to be a tutor for the young prince. She was supposed to show him how the world worked from the ancient's point of view. She was older than the prince by only a few years. Both were considered teenagers at 1109 years old.

"It can't be all that bad. Sure the classes maybe boring, the lectures dull, but think…someday you'll rule these lands and be able to make your own code. Soon you'll be able to go out into the world, meet the other races and make friends." The girl watched the horses as she pulled a flute from a pouch at her side and a bit of lembas bread which she handed to Legolas.

"But you're my friend. Why do I need any more then that?" the prince ate the bread as he looked at the girl.

"I'm supposed to be your tutor…I don't think your father would approve of you calling a servant a friend. It would be like saying you were friends with a human. It doesn't work that way." Nerdanel closed her eyes and began to weave a soft song on the flute, her slender fingers moving fluidly over the holes.

Legolas lie back on his elbows and let the sun shine on his face. He closed his eyes as he spoke. "I'm going to make that all change."

"Manka lle merna. If you wish." The girl stopped playing as she heard the steps of horses approaching and she cursed in Dwarf as she got to her feet. "I think they've found us."

"I believe so. What was that you spoke in? It seems…" the prince was lost for words as he too got to his feet and smoothed out his outfit.

"Crude?"

"Yes crude!" the prince smiled

"It's Dwarf." The girl smiled as she looked upon the faces of the guards.

"Will you teach it to me? I think it would better my social skills in the future." Legolas whispered to the girl.

"Maybe though I am not sure that your father would like me to teach that to you. I don't think they are very happy. This is going to be bad for both of us." The Elven girl grimaced at the looks the guards gave her.

"Don't worry. I'll be here. We'll both be in trouble and I'll stay right there with you. Friends have to stay together right?" he whispered in an undertone as the guards they had evaded entered the glade.

After mild admonishments from the guard the prince and the maiden mounted their horses and rode ahead of the men. They had promised not to bolt like they had before but enjoyed making the guards squirm as they traveled back to the palace. But as they reached the palace darkness obscured the beautiful features of the prince's home, making everything black. She screamed but no one came to see what was wrong. No one cared. No one came to save her from the darkness that settled over the lands. A cry of agony passed her lips escaping as she woke up to reality.

Thanks for reading the chappie and please R&R. I love reviews...and defiantely need to know if I need to continue with the story or not...but nonetheless..hope you enjoyed. Marie D.