Tenth chapter: Captivity
Legolas awoke slowly, feeling absolutely terrible. His left leg was throbbing painfully, his shoulder the same, and his chest was burning like fire, every intake and exhale sent flaring pain through his torso. He tried to move, but didn't have the strength to it. A small groan of pain escaped him. Someone immediately laid a soft hand on his cheek, gently calling his name. Rozarko, he realized. His minder was softly combing his finger through his hair. Legolas tried to concentrate on the gesture, but the pain intensified, he felt something burn inside him, inside his chest and his throat. Valar it hurt. He started to have trouble breathing, Rozarko seemed to conclude that too.
"Easy, Legolas" he whispered, "it's alright, breath slowly, easy".
The other in the cage of the wagon looked to the prince, which head lay on Rozarko's uninjured thigh. Rozarko gently, very gently, lay his hand on Legolas' chest. Legolas immediately tensed, another groan leaving him. Rozarko felt how Legolas' right chest did not move as much as the left. And he did not like the sound of his breathing, it was all too strained and wheezing. Legolas indeed had trouble breathing, and Rozarko concluded that blood and fluid properly gathered in his injured lung.
Legolas body was craving him to cough, but he did everything he could not to, excepting it would hurt like hell. He tried hard, but he felt weak, tired and just terrible. He made a poor attempt for a cough, but already this sent agonizing pain through his chest and entire body. He groaned in pain.
"Get it out, Legolas" Rozarko urged.
If Legolas had had the strength, he would have snapped a comment and a look at Rozarko.
"Come on, Legolas" someone else urged, he could not place his voice now, but it was familiar, and spoke in Sylvan.
Legolas body was screaming at him to cough, and he finally heeded it. Agonizing pain was flaring through is chest and body, burning, stabbing. He felt as warm blood and fluid ran from his mouth and down his cheeks. He screamed, let all the agony he felt inside him out. Damn it hurt, he wanted to turn back to the bliss of unconsciousness. He had been wounded before, but not like this.
"Shut him up!" someone hissed in the common tongue.
"He is hurt!" Rozarko snapped, "and bleeding inside".
Someone groaned irritated.
"Why did we take these half dead elves anyway?" someone asked.
"Because they are elves, idiot, and we can earn a lot, and I mean really a huge amount of money on them. One of them are worth the same as five ordinary slaves. They are obvious skillet warriors, and elves heal fast, they will be up and about soon".
"and causing you trouble" Legolas whispered in a hoarse and strained voice, pain edging it.
The men were glaring at the silvery white haired elf, lying on the floor of the wagon, blood down his chin, throat and chest.
"Get moving!" the leader hissed, and the wagon moved faster than before.
They had travelled south for a week, having exited the forest six days ago. The elves had healed slowly, slower than normal, but they hadn't had the herbs, food and water to help them. Legolas breathing was more sufficient, and hos other injuries had almost healed.
They neared a city, surrounded by a high wall with a heavy gate. The elves had been quiet for the most of the journey, and now felt their nervousness rise as they entered the city. The roads were of dirt, the houses of wood with heavy, gray stone, and small gardens around them. Women, children and men stopped what they were doing to look awe stuck at the elves in the cage.
As they neared the center of the city, the houses became bigger, and in the middle of the city lay a huge arena. They turned left, and entered what seemed to be a market. There was stall after stall with vegetables, meat, flowers, fish, animals, clothing, even one with weapons. Then the markets changed, and the stalls were replaced with humans either sitting on the ground or standing bound to poles. A slave market, the elves thought with raising fear.
The wagon came to a halt, the humans who had ridden next to it dismounted, raised their weapons and opened the cage. The elves were bound on hands and feet, making escape trickier. The elves were ushered out, and bound to several poles. Legolas and Rozarko was bound to the same one, then Tristan and Cyan was bound together to another pole, and last Anglond and Galdor.
Then it began, the elves were stripped of their tunics, faces and bodies cleaned, and hair was being combed. When done, one of the men started shouting to get the attention of the onlookers.
"Gentlemen!" he shouted in a clear, business like tone, "we have some of the most exotic, mystical and dangerous being on Middle-earth, right here before you. We are talking about six incredible, strong, powerful and incredible beautiful elves! Yes, my gentlemen, you heard correct, elves! And they are all for sale!".
People were gathering around them, looking amazed at the six elves standing tall and strong before them.
"Take a good look everybody" the man shouted again, "and then place your bets".
"You cannot sell other people like this!" Legolas yelled angrily, only earning a whip to his back, his face grimacing, but his body did not even flinch.
Men was staring at the elves, some even walking close to them, looking them over, feeling their muscles, their hair, looking at their faces. All of the elves felt uneased, some trying to flinch away from the looks and touches.
"Well" the man shouted, "some of them still need a little discipline. But then again, you have you chance to form these magnificent creatures the way you like".
"Ten gold coins for those two" one tall man said, pointing to Anglond and Galdor.
"My gentlemen, these are elves, trained warriors. They are worth more than that".
"I bit twenty for the two of them" another piped in.
"Thirty".
"Forty".
"Fifty".
"Can they fight? Are they strong?" one asked.
"Off cause" the man answered, "look at them. They attacked us in the forest, managing to kill over half my escort".
"Seventy gold coins" the first man yelled.
"Sold" the man shouted, handing over the chains to the man, and receiving the payment.
Legolas looked mortified as he saw his two friends being led away, disappearing into the crowd. He felt the anger raising, nobody could just buy people like that, ripping them of their freedom and free will.
"Sold!" he suddenly heard the man shout, and saw another tall man, walking off with Tristan and Cyan, surrounded by guards, and ushered into a new wagon.
Legolas lost his temper then, he shouted cursing on all languages he knew, pulling furiously at the chains.
"This one here is a feisty one!" the man shouted, earning laugher from the audience.
"Fifty gold coins for them both" one man offered.
"Too low" the man quipped.
"A hundred for both" another offered.
"One hundred and twenty".
"One hundred and forty" the first offered.
"One hundred and fifty".
"Two hundred".
"Two hundred and twenty".
"Four hundred gold coins for both of them, and leave it at that, my friends" a low, fat man barked. He was dressed in what seemed to be rich, green and golden clothing. He seemed to be of importance to the city, and very rich indeed.
"Sold" the man quickly shouted.
Rozarko and Legolas was ushered into a cage of a waiting wagon. And then they left the market. The other slaves almost looked sorry for them as they passed by, one even had tears in his eyes.
"Be careful" one slave said, "he is the bad one".
The two elves did not know what he meant, but did not like the sound of it, nor the way the other slaves looked at them.
They neared the arena in the middle of the city, was let through gate after gate, through narrow streets, until they entered a courtyard, surrounded by huge walls, and doors after doors along the barrack to the left. To the right side was a huge house, with a balcony overlooking the courtyard. The wagon stopped, and guards ushered out of the house and barrack, weapons ready. The door to the cage was opened, and Legolas and Rozarko was ushered outside, and into one of the doors to the barracks. Cell after cell with slaves was the sight that met them. But the elves were let to a selected area of the barracks, which hold two cells its one, and they were thrown into each cell.
Elladan looked back, the forest was far behind them now, and the green plains of southern Rhûn was laid out before them. Trees, small streams and bushes was placed out here and there. The small company of Imladrian elves was travelling after the tracks, sending scouts out ahead.
Falael had been quiet on the most of the trip, only talking when they had questions. He had, in very short terms, told them what has happened in the years they had been in exile.
They entered a small forest, a stream running though it. They decided to take a small rest, and give their horses a change to drink and eat. Falael looked to the trees, sensing something. Suddenly, he started to whistle like a bird, and the call was carried with the wind and through the trees. It was answered by another bird call, then another, and another.
Falael smiled hugely, and not long after, a medium blond haired elf jumped down from the tree above him, landing just mare inches from Falael, who did not even flinch.
"Girion!" Falael exclaimed happily, and the other elf looked more than relieved, and drew Falael into a warm hug.
"Are you alright?" Girion asked.
"Yes" Falael choked.
Glorfindel had turned when he heard Falael exclaim, and soon more elves jumped down from the trees above them. Mirthral, the brothers Rogon and Logon, Kaleth and Gilthron. They all ran to Falael, happy and relieved to see him.
Girion then turned to Glorfindel, bowing his head with his right hand on his heart. Glorfindel returned the gesture.
"We have tracked the others to a city one-day march from here" Girion told, "we have not entered the city yet. It is surrounded by a high wall, three gates entering the city, not very well guarded".
Glorfindel nodded, "show the way".
Legolas and Rozarko were ushered into the courtyard. It was early in the morning, and they heard the other slaves awakening and going to the courtyard as well.
Outside in the courtyard, the fat man who had bought them stood upon the balcony, overlooking the dirt and sand below him. The other slaves stood under the balcony, facing the two elves who were being brought out, chained on hands and feet. Their chests still bare, and their hair falling around their strong shoulders. Rozarko fallowed quietly, while Legolas struggled hard against his hold. Always the feisty prince, Rozarko mused.
The sun was shining; it was going to be a hot day. A tall and strong built man stood in the middle of courtyard, a whip in his right hand. Legolas was held by two men, Rozarko only by one.
"So" the tall man said skeptically, "this is the elves?".
Legolas glared hotly at him, Rozarko too. The man slowly approached them.
"I have heard that elves are strong, fair, and the best of warriors. That will all be shown here" he smirked.
The tall man stood directly in front of Legolas.
"I would very much like to see what you a capable of" the man smirked, "to see if the legends are true".
Legolas stood calmly before the man now, holding his gaze strongly, cocking his head slightly.
"You, will give us a demonstration of the elven ability of fighting" he said.
"You want to see your men die?" Legolas asked calmly.
Stunned silence fallowed in the courtyard and on the balcony. Legolas just stood calmly and hold the man's gaze.
"Confident words from someone who yet are to prove his worth" the man spat.
"And why should I prove anything to you?" Legolas challenged.
The man's face turned red, his jaw set in a firm line.
"You are a slave!" he almost yelled, his anger raising, "do you fallow order!".
Legolas did not respond, he just held his gaze.
"Which weapon do you prefer?" the man then asked.
Legolas gave the man a wry smile before answering.
"Bow, twin knifes, sword, regular knifes, spear if I have too, my bare hands, tooth, nails…"
"Alright!" the man threw his hands up in the air, "we have twin knifes, will that do?".
"Sure" Legolas then answered calmly.
The man nodded towards a young man, nothing more than a boy, who ran and gathered two twin knifes. He handed them to the man, who took them and looked for a long while at Legolas, who still stood calmly before him. He could not read the expression on the elf, his icy blue eyes seemed to pierce him.
"Goran!" the tall man then called, and a muscular man stepped fort, black hair cut very short, "you will show blondie here what we are capable off".
"Blondie?" Legolas said with disdain.
"Here!" the tall man spat and handed Legolas the two knifes.
They were off a much poorer quality than his own, and a heavier. The handles were of dark wood, and the blades of gray steal, no engravings or anything. Legolas stood for a few moments, getting used to the feeling of these new weapons. Rozarko stood next to him, with a wide grin on his face. He knew that Legolas would kick that man's ass.
"Ready?" the tall man asked.
Legolas just nodded, and the others created a circle. The man before Legolas held a sword, not as long as the elven, or even those of human he had seen, but not at short as his knifes. In his left hand he held a round shield.
"Begin!" the tall man yelled.
Legolas stood calmly and watched as the man before him got into position, the shield covering the majority of his upper body, and the sword pointing forward. The man then attacked, for the other men it seemed fast, for the elves, he moved slowly. Legolas easily blocked his attack with the one knife, and then he knelled down, grabbed the man's leg, and threw him to the ground. Before the man could look around, the tip of a knife was pointed to his throat.
Stunned silence was all that was heard in the courtyard.
"Your upper body you keep protected by that shield of yours" Legolas told calmly, "but you leave your legs wide open".
The man growled low in his throat, and glared angrily at the elf.
"Again!" the tall man yelled.
Legolas moved and the man got up from the ground. The call for begin was heard, and the man attacked right after. Legolas blocked his attack, waited for the man to strike again, and easily blocked than one too. For a while he just blocked his attacks, but then he got bored. Legolas leapt forth and attacked the man, who stunned blocked it in the last moment, Legolas then turned and attacked the man's exposed side, and knocked him to the ground. Again the man felt the tip of the knife to his throat.
"How?" the man on the ground asked stunned, "how can you be so good? You cannot properly be more than twenty years old".
At this, Legolas laughed and removed the knife. He offered the man his hand, which he took, and pulled him up again.
"I am a bit more than just twenty-year-old" Legolas grinned.
"How can that be?" he man asked even more surprised.
"Elves are immortal" the fat man yelled from the balcony.
Legolas and Rozarko shot the fat man a hot glare, the tall man, who seemed to be the trainer, glared with interest at the two elves.
"Is the brown haired one as good as you, blondie?" the tall man asked.
Legolas shot him an angry look, his eyes piercing the man.
"I do have a name" Legolas sad dangerously, "and it is not blondie!".
Rozarko walked forth until he stood beside Legolas, laying a calming hand on his shoulder.
"I have trained for many years" Rozarko said calmly, "even for more years than my friend here, but I am not quite as talented".
"Why?" the trainer asked, "if you have more years of practice".
"He received the best training someone could" Rozarko told, "and trained for more hours than any".
"Well" the trainer said, "I will see just how good you two are, give us a demonstration".
A sword was handed to Rozarko, and the circle once again created around them. The trainer called for begin, and the two elves sprung at each other. Striking, blocking, turning, jumping, bucking. It was an awes trucking and beautiful deadly dance, which left Rozarko defeated, with Legolas behind him, a knife to his throat and to his side.
The fat man laughed merrily and clapped his hands.
"Amazing!" he laughed, "simply amazing! I do not think you can teach these two elves anything, Balak".
Balak, the trainer, shot the two elves a strange smile.
"You can go far" Balak said, "even for the top, if you want to".
"I pray tell, Balak, why we should want that?" Legolas said disdainful.
"You will fight in the arena" Balak said, "or you will die in the arena".
"They all talk about elves inside the city" Girion told as he came to sit near the fire.
He was clad in a cape, the hood covering his elven features.
"Six elves" he continued, "have been sold on the market four days ago, they were sold in pairs of two. Two of them were brought to the arena right away, some told me it was an elf with brown hair, and one with silvery white. I think Legolas and Rozarko. The others have been taken out of the city, two going south and two going west".
"What about their defenses?" Glorfindel asked.
"The gates are not heavily guarded during the day, and we can slip inside as long as they don't see us as elves. Guards patrol the streets, but did not once look at me. It will be difficult to enter the arena as long as it is closed. It only opens when there are games going on".
"What kind of games?" Falael asked, his face turning a bit white.
"I think Legolas and Rozarko have been sold as gladiators" Girion told, "for the others, I do not know. But I do hope they have been sold as common slaves".
"Let us hope that" Glorfindel agreed.