Chapter 10. Escape attempt
Legolas tried to shift slightly, ignoring the pain that had instantly changed from the dull constant throbbing into the flames of agony. His body was far beyond stiff. Actually, he could no longer feel his limbs at all. Those humans were afraid of him. Even after the cruel beating they had performed earlier, his bonds weren't loosen as much as an inch.
His throat was dry, yet he couldn't even swallow properly because of a gag that was still tied around his mouth. And he knew for sure that this people would give him no food or water. They were probably going to kill him anyway, so why to bother?
He wasn't awake, or better to say conscious, for long, yet he wished to go back into painless darkness already. There was no point in staying awake, really. All it gave him were depressed thoughts, which were instantly joining the pain, happy to cause him even more misery.
Yet, despite his best efforts, he was staying awake. His thought flew to his home. Even as his body was hurting and tied up in some human shed, his spirit could not be stopped by such a ridiculous obstacles. In his inner sight he could see tall trees of Northern Mirkwood, a free wind dancing merrily in their tops. And among them, his fathers halls – an unshakable stronghold of the wood-elves. The picture in his mind shifted, concentrating on the tall noble elf. A beautiful crown, made of flowers and leaves, circled his forehead, laying perfectly over long golden hair. Legolas had to fight hard in order to hold the tears of regret back. Somehow, the image of his father caused his heart to miss a beat. He wasn't afraid of the death, even of a death over something as ridiculous as an old unjust prejudice. But what would happen to his father should Legolas die?
The majority of people, who had an honor (or in some cases misfortune) to meet the proud king of Mirkwood, tended to perfect some of his features and forget about others. Yes, Thranduil was stoic and cold, his every move screaming of his noble blood. Legolas could even agree that his father was sometimes too hot-blooded and really, really scary when angered (not that the prince would let anyone say it out loud). But what almost no one knew, was the fact that Thranduil was also a caring parent and a loyal friend. Within his high solid walls of stoicism, a strong, yet gentle heart was beating. And even though the king could be worse then merciless toward his enemies, he was very protective over his family and friends, as was he over his people. It pained Legolas to think of what would the news of his death do to his father.
Death… Legolas' thoughts shifted once more, his mind providing him with fresh nightmarish memories of Aragorn, falling into the hole in the ground, en expression of shock and disbelief all over his face. For some unreasonable moments Legolas felt the urge to laugh. The sound of it would probably make everyone in the hearing range believe him mad, but it was beyond the point. The idea of a crown prince of Mirkwood and the only direct heir of Isildur, powerful warriors, dieing here, Eru knows where, was just too much for his pained brain.
He tried to cling on to hope, reassuring himself that Aragorn wasn't dead, yet he felt it slowly fading, like a water seeping through the clenched fingers. He had seen his friend fall and there was no way for the human to stay unharmed after that. He might not be dead, but who would help him now, when Legolas himself was in a great need of help?
Feeling his very soul starting to burn with despair, the elven prince sighed. The stream of dark memories and even darker thoughts, helpfully provided by his rich imagination, were taking their toll on him. The pain was growing, even though it had previously seemed impossible. Now it was concentrating in his skull, pulsing through his brain with every pump of blood, dulling everything else. The only feeling that had stayed with him was pain. Pain and despair…
XXX
"So, what's now?" Adlin asked excitedly, as the two of them crouched in the darkness, their eyes never leaving the shed.
"You'll stay here", Aragorn said firmly. "And I will try to free Legolas".
"But Strider,…", the girl started to protest, wanting to help so badly. "I can…"
"No, Adlin", - Aragorn withdrew his gaze from the wooden construction and looked at the girl. "The guards aren't too alert as you've said yourself. I don't think there would be any problems in knocking them out. But should something go wrong, should I be caught, these people must not see you. Imaging what would happen to you if they find out you've helped us".
The girl was silent for a long minute, but then reluctantly nodded. She knew there was little way for her to help, but any action would be better then the lack of it. Yet, this Strider was right. She can't risk be caught helping the two strangers. And not only because of what would happen to her, but also because there would be no one to help the two friends.
Sighing deeply, she backed further into shadows, her eyes watching Strider's every move.
Aragorn shook his head, smiling slightly. He really liked this girl. Moving stealthily toward the shed, he suddenly realized that he wouldn't be able to leave Adlin behind. By what he had gathered from the girl's words, her life here was far from pleasant. Maybe he'll be able to find her a better home?
'No time for those thoughts right now!' Aragorn scowled at himself, grabbing a thick wooden stick from the ground and moving to the shed's side. This way he would be able to get behind the two humans, who looked as if they were actually sleeping, despite their upright poses.
Aragorn knew that the success of this escape mission was in stealth and speed. He took one deep breath and jumped to the first guard, knocking him hard with the stick. Even before the limp body touched the ground, the second guard joined his fellow in the lands of unconsciousness. Placing the two man near the wall, he tried to make it look as if they fell asleep on their posts. He knew far too well, that the guards' absence would cause suspicion, if not panic, and he couldn't risk that.
Gripping his stick more comfortable, Aragorn moved to the back of the shad, from where two slightly slurred voices could be heard. He winked his nose in disgust. It had always shocked him, how careless some representatives of his own race could be. People, who lived in this village, trusted them to guard their sleep from a strange powerful creature, who they believed to be evil. And this four men were acting as if they protect basket of sweets from a bunch of kids. Not that he minded it, anyway.
When the pair at the back had joined their comrades, Aragorn returned to the entrance of the shed, quickly stepping inside. He knew that there might be more guards, but he had no time for the further caution. Should one of the unconscious men wake up, all his plans would shatter…
"Legolas…" He called softly into the darkness, waiting for his eyes to get used to the almost complete lack of light that occupied the room.
Silence was his only reply.
"Legolas!" Aragorn whispered urgently, cursing his limited human sight. At the times like this he had actually envied the race of elder greatly. "Please, answer me".
XXX
Legolas couldn't tell for sure whether he was awake or not, probably semiconscious. In his half-delirious state of mind he was reliving Aragorn's fall, spiced up by the memories of their previous adventures. He saw him bleeding to death in the hands of orcs, being poisoned by Mirkwood spiders, falling from the cliff, drowning in the river… And each time Aragorn was calling for him desperately, and each time Legolas was too late to save his friend's life. He tried his best, but no matter how fast he ran, he wasn't moving closer even for an inch, he was grabbing Aragorn's hand, but it was always slipping out of his grip. And every time he could see the look of shock and horror in the usually kind grey eyes of his friend.
"Legolas…" The voice broke to him as if from far away. 'No! No more…', Legolas mind screamed in anguish. No more reminding of his failure! No more images of his friend's sufferings!
"Legolas! Please, answer me!" The notes of despair in Aragorn's hushed voice was too much for an elven prince to ignore. Slowly, he willed himself toward full consciousness, still not daring to believe. Was his friend here? But how?
The elf tried to struggle in his bonds weakly, cursing his bindings, his gag, his blindfold, the humans who did that to him…
XXX
Aragorn's ears, sharpened by the adrenalin that was streaming through his blood. He suddenly could hear some rustling and heavily muffled noises. He strained his eyes to see and finally spotted some dark shape near the far wall of the shed. He rushed toward it, miraculously avoiding stumbling through things in a complete darkness that was surrounding him. Falling to his knees, he reached out, touching the figure gently. He couldn't see his friend clearly, but what he saw made his anger increase to a seemingly impossible levels. Legolas' arms and legs were tied up with thick ropes. The elf was blindfolded and gagged too.
"Oh, mellon-nin…", Aragorn put the piece of cloths out of Legolas' mouth and carefully removed the blindfold.
"E-Estel…" the elf's voice was almost inaudible, his throat being obviously dry and parched.
"Sh-h, my friend", Aragorn started to work on the tight ropes that were binding his friend. "I'll get you free in no time. Just stay with me, my friend".
XXX
It was so hard to believe in it. Aragorn was alive! Legolas could have sworn that his heart twitched in joy upon seeing his friend again. He summoned all his remaining strength, preparing for the fight out of this mass once his bonds were undone. Now, that a strong flame of hope had been reborn in his heart, the prince was ready to fight. For himself and his best friend.
Yet, some dark feeling interrupted him right in the middle of this thoughts. It refused to go away and so the prince tried to pay it some attention. His senses were still dulled by the pain and bone-deep weariness, but they weren't gone completely. Once he had finally realized what this feeling of approaching danger was about, it became too late.
Legolas tried desperately to catch his friend's attention, but Aragorn was too exited to notice it. Even though the prince was blindfolded for more then a day, his elven sight was fast to restore even despite the fact that it was night. And what he saw made him shiver: dark figure was sneaking toward his human friend.
"Estel…", he tried to warn Aragorn, but his usually melodic voice betrayed him, coming out in no more then a croaked whisper. And his friend's fingers, pressed gently to his lips to silence him didn't help the matters either.
The elf tried to speak once more, to move and do something to prevent the unavoidable, but all his efforts were in vain. The man stopped right behind the kneeling ranger and raised his arm for a hit. One horrific moment later he smashed his fist hard into the back of Aragorn's head, instantly knocking the man unconscious. The ranger fell forward right onto the still bound feet of his elven friend.
Legolas raised his eyes onto the village's leader, a look of remorse and anger shining brightly in them. For a moment their gazes locked and the human was frozen, shocked by the depth of the elf's eyes that seemed to be shining in the darkness of the room. However, his stupor was a short-lived one. The man smiled crookedly and slammed his hand, armed with now blooded rock, into the elf's temple.
XXX
"What had happen here?" One of the men came inside the shed, bringing a torch with him. "Dear Gods!" He gasped in shock, looking at the two unconscious figures laying at the floor.
"Bind the human and check the elf's bonds as well", the leader ordered harshly. "We'll deal with them in the morning, as was planned before. And make sure you'll put more capable men to guard the shed this time."
"But, sir… Um… Do you… Do you mean we are to execute this man as well?" The villager asked, obviously bewildered by this thought and yet too scary to oppose his leader directly.
The leader smiled again, his cruel merciless smirk sending shivers down the other man's back.
"If he was acting under some kind of spell, we'll actually do his soul a great favor. And if he did this out of his free will, he's as guilty as this elf is". His words weren't loud, but so cold and firm that it could stop any attempt at further discussion even before it was actually born. "Now, do as I said!"
With that he walked out the shed, tossing a blooded stone away, not aware that it had missed small cringing figure by mare inches, but had bruised her heart forever.
… TBC