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Rating: T
And the Blind Will See
Chapter 10
Estel saw the dread in Legolas' eyes. It was mirrored in his own. They were right back where they started from.
Elrond stood and survey the forest around them. Legolas' words sunk in. It made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. Pushing back the oppressive darkness radiating from the trees, Elrond reached out with his own mind. He found exactly what Legolas had felt all along, the presence of evil. It was everywhere. The trees had clouded their minds allowing the spiders to close in on them. Now, it was too late. They were surrounded. He regretfully realized that Legolas had been right all along.
Like a fog lifting, the darkness receded allowing all of them to see what was really there. High in the trees all around them flickered hundreds of eager eyes. The warriors did not need Elrond's senses to tell them that they were surrounded and outnumbered. Drawing their arrows they waited. Their horses anxiously pawed the ground fighting the urge to run.
Legolas' injuries forgotten, they mounted their horses and prepared to face the spiders. Elrond noticed with regret that Legolas stood out among the elves. There was no hiding him now. They could clearly pick out the prince among them. There was nothing to do, but wait. They could neither go back nor forward.
Hundreds of spiders surrounded them, but none approach any closer than necessary to keep them from escaping. Still as statures, they sat posed to pounce upon command. Some even hung from webs over their heads as if frozen in place.
Finally, a disembodied voice broke the silence. "Good morning, I see you have brought back my prisoner." He said, his words dripping with satisfaction.
Not surprised, Elrond slowly turned to face the newcomer. "He does not belong to you. So, I cannot return him." Descending from above appeared an enormous black spider. It was at least three times the size of a normal Mirkwood spider. Elrond hid his shock at the size of the creature. Leave it up to these two to find the biggest spider in all of Mirkwood and tick him off, he thought.
The monstrous spider descended closer to its prey. "Nevertheless, he is mine and I will have him back. Even, if I have to kill all of you to get him. It matters not to me," he said.
Glaring at the creature, Elrond did not give in. "I guess we have a problem then."
Watching the exchange between Elrond and the spider, Legolas could feel hundreds of greedy eyes staring at him. This group was eager to please. They each wanted to be the one to wrap him up and deliver him to their leader like a big fat present. He didn't think that there was any way out of this mess. They would not survive a fight against this many spiders and there was no place to run. They would all die unless he turned himself over to them. Despair returned at the thought of being right back where he started. All that running and fighting for what?
"But you see, My Dear Lord, my soldiers, outnumber yours. Which means, I can simply wait until you run out of arrows and warriors?" Pausing, he glanced up at his horde. "True, I will lose a few spiders, but I have plenty to spare. Eventually, I will get to the dear prince and there is nothing that you or your gallant warriors can do about it." Finally, touching the ground the spider continued. "Your only choice, Your Highness, is to turn him over to me and hope that I let you live or you can fight and die," he concluded.
Elrond knew this to be true their choices were few, fight and die or give up the prince and hope to come back and get him. His heart sunk at the choice he was forced to make, but he knew no other way. All of their lives hung in the balance. "You will lose more than a few, I am afraid. My warriors are highly skilled and they would kill hundreds of your soldiers before you could get to him," he stalled.
"That is true, but you elves, you value your lives. We do not. These spiders are nothing to me. They are, but a means to an end. Even the traitor in your midst, does not concern me." He added, referring to Wilwarin. "You may take her with you, I care not." He said, trying to sweeten the deal. "Leave me the prince and you and your elves go free."
Knowing that he would not get a better offer, Elrond tested the water. "How can I trust that you will let the rest of my warriors go free? You could just attack after you get the prince? I cannot trust the word of a spider," he said.
The spider exploded with anger. "My word, you can't trust my word? Ask the prince, if I did not keep my bargain with him. I kept my word to him, but he violated my trust and escaped. It was he, who was not trust worthy, Your Highness, not me!" He exclaimed, remembering the recent betrayal.
"That is not true. An elf always keeps his word. You lie. I can't take your word over his." Elrond argued.
Pointing a long sharp claw at the elf Lord, he said "Ask your precious prince. If he is indeed honorable he will admit to it. He gave his word to accompany me in exchange for that human's life."
Elrond took a deep breath. That sounded exactly like the prince he knew always putting Estel first. But now, he had only one choice to save them, leave the prince behind. Even though it was the last thing he wanted to do. He would have to convince the spider that the prince meant nothing to him now. Turning to face the prince, he regretfully began his act. "Is this true, prince?" He snapped, throwing Legolas off guard. "You broke your word?"
"I.., Yes. He did keep his part of the bargain." He stammered, surprised by Elrond's angry tone.
Moving closer to the prince, Elrond continued. "The word of an elf is highly regarded. You did not honor your agreement with him?" He purposely led the conversation, his words saying one thing, but his eyes trying to say another.
"But Ada, he had no choice." Estel said, defending his friend's honor.
"Silence! I did not ask you!" Elrond replied. He could not have Estel interfering.
"Yes, My Lord." Estel said, shocked at his father's anger.
Finally picking up on Elrond's lead, Legolas followed along. "No, I did not." He answered, hanging his head in false shame.
"You have dishonored your name. I will not risk my people for you." Elrond said, the words leaving a bad taste in his mouth.
Sliding from the horse, the prince played along. "I will honor my word now, take Estel and go" He said, hoping the spider could be fooled.
In horror, Estel watched as his best friend sacrificed himself. "Legolas, NO!" He cried.
"So be it." Elrond said, turning his back on the prince.
Legolas turned to face his friend. "No, Estel I must. I broke my word. I need to fix it." He said trying to get his message across. "It is the only way," he pleaded.
Estel stared at his friend. He could not bear the thought of leaving him here in the clutches of the spider again!
"Estel, it is the only way." Legolas repeated, afraid that Estel would try and stop him or worse yet tag along. "Go home with your family."
Estel knew it was the only was the only way. He realized that they were acting for the spider's benefit. He regrettable relented. "Go," he said.
He was relieved that Estel did not put up a fight. If the plan did not work then his kingdom and his own father would be doomed. He was trading one family's safety for another's, but he did not know what else to do.
Estel knew there was no other way to get his family out of this mess alive. The spider needed Legolas alive, so he would be safe for a while. They would have time to come back and save him.
Without another word, Legolas approached the spider. He began, "Let them go this is not their battle. They do not even live here. I will go with you…," he said.
The spider let out a horrendous laugh that echoed throughout the forest. "Those words sound very familiar to me, princeling. Where have I heard them before?" he mocked.
Cringing as he made a slight bow to the creature, Legolas tried again, "I am sorry for my mistake. Please let me correct my error and stand by my word. It was useless for me to resist. Your army is impossible to escape. You are a strong and powerful leader and I have underestimated your abilities. I will no longer stand in your way. I concede defeat."
Legolas ended kneeling on the ground before the great spider. He needed to be convincing even if it went against everything he believed in. He could not stand by and watch his friends die.
Estel heart was about to burst as he watched Legolas offer himself up to the spider. He wanted nothing more than run up and stop him. His brothers worried that they would lose Estel too so they pushed their mounts in closer to prevent him from escaping. Tearing his eyes from Legolas' kneeling form, he found his father watching him intently. Elrond's head shook in a silent no warning him not to interfere.
"Why should I believe you this time?" He growled.
Not moving from his spot, Legolas tried again. "Please let me make it up to you. I will come freely with you now." Without rising, he slowly removed all his weapons and carefully laid them on the ground. He was getting desperate to win the spider over.
Shaking his head, he laughed. "I can take you by force, prince. Offer me something..., I cannot take," he asked greedily. His interest piqued.
Clenching his fist at his sides, Legolas continued with the words, he loathed to say. "I will aid you in your ascent to the throne. You cannot take my cooperation, but I can give it to you freely. Spare my people and I will help you win. My father does not know your strength. I do. I can convenience him to surrender," he said.
The words were just enough to push the spider over the edge. "Yes," he said gleefully. He scurried over to stand in front of the kneeling elf.
Everyone held their breath as the spider approach Legolas. The warriors poised to act on Elrond's signal.
Legolas locked every muscle in place resisting the urge to grab his weapons and slit its throat. Such an action would mean certain death to them all. He saw its clawed feet enter into his view, but he kept his gaze focused on the ground in front of him.
Placing one foot beneath the prince's chin, the spider forced his head up, "Say it again, prince. Swear to me your obedience on the lives of your friends here." He ordered his voice full of anticipation.
The words make Legolas feel sick to his stomach. "I swear it." He said, forcing himself to look the spider in the eye.
"Swear it on what? Prince," he asked greedily.
Taking a deep breath, he repeated. "I swear it on my family and friends."
The forest had fallen completely silent as everyone watched the act play out in front of them. Estel held his breath afraid that the spider would see though their plans and strike him dead.
Angry, the spider raised a sharp claw to the prince's throat slicing a thin line crossed his exposed neck, "Swear on their LIVES! Prince, on their lives!" he screamed.
Estel lunged forward trying to break through his brother's hold. "No!" he cried.
The twins held him tight keeping him on his horse. "Stop, Estel" Elladan whispered.
In his mind, Estel saw Legolas fall to the ground bleed profusely. He was dying right before his eyes. "NO!" he screamed again.
"No, look he is fine, Estel. Legolas is fine." Elladan said, trying to calm his younger brother.
Estel cleared the vision from his mind and saw what his brother said was true. Legolas still kneeled before the spider, but with a trickle of blood running down his pale neck into his collar.
"See? He is fine." He repeated.
Estel could only nod his head. The vision had seemed so real.
Feeling the warm blood spill down his chest, Legolas obeyed. "I swear my allegiance to you on my family and friend's lives, if you let all of these elves go free," he said.
The spider did not speak it just stared at the prince deep in thought. He needed the prince to get to the king without him his plan would never work. The prince was the king's only weakness. These elves meant nothing to him, he wanted to rule this forest not theirs. Having the prince's aid in his conquest would make him unstoppable. The more he thought, the more his greed took over.
Elrond desperate to keep things from going the wrong way stepped in, "Do we have an agreement?" He said, trying to get the spiders attention.
Turning his gaze on the Elf Lord suspiciously, he asked. "Why are you so eager to leave this one now? The human seems to be concerned for this one's well being and yet you are not?"
Without missing a beat, Elrond answered, "He has dishonored his people and mine. He is not important in my eyes any longer. My son's feelings do not concern me."
"That is all?" he asked, even more suspicious.
The group held their breath, afraid that the spider had suddenly seen through their charade.
"The prince is not my son. I have my son back." He said, gesturing to the human. "And, as you have said, we value life more than you do. I am preserving the lives of twenty elves compared to the life of just one. Since you are not planning on killing him, I do not see any reason to get involved," he rationalized. "My people are my main concern."
The spider seemed to accept Elrond's reasoning, "Then, we will part ways. My army will escort you to your lands."
"Good, then we have an agreement, I will turn the prince over to you and you will allow us free passage home."
"Agreed," he answered. "You are of no importance to me. Go, my soldiers will escort you to the borders of my land."
Legolas reached to retrieve his weapons.
Catching the movement, the spider stopped him. "Leave them! He said, with a smile. "You will no longer need them."
Legolas took a long look at his precious weapons lying on the ground. He felt naked without them.
Estel's body moved on its own making an attempt to dismount, his brothers both grabbed his arms holding him in place. "No!" They said in unison.
"But, his weapons." He said wanting to keep them for his friend.
'No leave them. We must not help him," Elrohir said.
Listening to his brothers reasoning, he settled back in his saddle. He was stricken with guilt at what they were about to do. He felt things getting out of control. A terrible feeling was growing in the pit of his stomach.
Without any further hesitation, Elrond motioned for the group to leave. With the spider's army cut in half, at least they stood a chance of defeating them and returning with reinforcements to rescue the prince.
The group slowly moved off towards Rivendell surrounded on all sides by spiders. Estel forced himself to take his eyes off Legolas' slowly shrinking form.
Wilwarin got up to follow the group of elves and then stopped. She looked back at the elf. She did not want to leave him behind either. She felt that he was important. Somewhere in her memories she knew why, but right now she could not figure it out. She could not save him and she could not stay. She had no choice. Self-preservation won out and she slipped into the forest.
Alone with the spider, Legolas felt defeated. He had saved the lives of his friends, but now, he had put his kingdom in danger. He knew that they would not desert him and that reinforcements were needed, but it did not make him feel any better. Legolas was shaken from his thoughts as several spiders approached and surrounded him.
"Come now, prince. Do not worry about your friends, my spiders will make it painless." He smirked, watching the prince closely for any reaction.
Legolas' head snapped up. His heart pounded at the shock of what he thought he just heard him say. "What? What do you mean painless? What will be painless?" He demanded, glaring at the spider.
"Why, my dear prince. We are even now. You did not keep your bargain before and now I will not keep mine." Leaning in closer to the elf, he explained, annunciating slowly, "My army will kill them as they near the Rivendell borders. Do not worry they will not suffer…much."
"No, you agreed, you cannot kill them!" He cried. Legolas stared back in disbelief. He had made the wrong choice and now his friends would die!
"I cannot have them coming back to interfere with my plans. You have delayed us long enough," he said.
Still kneeling, Legolas had no time to respond as the group of spiders closed in. He tried to fight them off, but he was pinned underneath several bodies that pushed him to the ground. He felt suffocated under the heavy weight. Panic raced through his body at the thought of being crushed to death by the spiders. But his panic faded quickly as it only took a few minutes for the spiders to successfully jab their stingers into his flesh. The familiar poison made its way through his body. As his consciousness faded, he heard the spider's final order. "Kill them all."
Fear was the last thing he felt as he surrendered to the poison. It engulfed his entire being like the final wave before you are sucked into a cold, dark abyss.