Chapter ten – bloodshed

Legolas listened to the quiet night as he stared into the dying embers of the fire. The twins were sleeping restlessly beside him. The six nights they had spent in the wilderness had been filled with nightmares and the bloodshed earlier that evening had done nothing to change it.

They had come upon a group of orcs in the Ettenmoors and the twins had thrown themselves immediately into battle without any kind of tactic. Losing themselves and their judgment to their blazing fury and hatred. He had cursed before running after them. Instead of throwing himself headfirst in the battle he had quickly scaled a tree and pulled out his bow. Making sure that he had both the twins covered.

There had been a wild look in the twins' eyes as they cleaved their way through the twenty-orc-strong pack, not caring for mercy or painless deaths. When Elladan had wanted to interrogate the last remaining orc for the location of another pack despite the orcs wounds. Legolas had sent and arrow through its heart, killing it instantly.

The action had cost him an angry blow to the head from Elladan, but he hadn't been able to stand by and watch his friend torture an orc and see the …enjoyment in his eyes. He hadn't been able to do it and he didn't think Elrohir had either.

Legolas scooted over to Elladan when he started thrashing and murmuring under his breath. He gently reached over and shook his shoulder to wake him up. Elladan bolted upright, breathing heavily.

"Be at peace." Legolas said soothingly, "It was only a dream."

Elladan shuddered and drew away from Legolas' touch, his horror-filled eyes staring at the forest floor. He did not say anything as he got to his feet and walked away from the camp and into the forest.

Legolas sighed, this had happened all the other times as well. Elladan would sleep half the night, then have a nightmare and wander the woods. The first evening he had tried to speak with him but he had just short of ignored him. The only response he had gotten was being snapped at.

So far all his tries at communicating with Elladan had failed and ended with some form of violence. Elladan had always been more hotheaded than his brother and that had obviously influenced the massive amount of hatred that now held him down. Elrohir was more gentle, but last night as soon as the orcs had made their presence known his eyes had turned just as black as his brother's.

Legolas looked up into the starry sky, smiling when he remembered what he had promised his daughter.

The past six days he had had his mind closed off so tightly he wasn't able to deduce anything from his bond with his wife and daughter except that they were alive. It saddened him to know that Maliel could be having a nightmare right now and he would know nothing about it.

Dol Guldur hadn't tried to attack him yet and he hoped it never would, but he couldn't afford to take chances. It was beyond worrying that whatever was down there seemed to be growing ever stronger. Attacking and destroying like there was no tomorrow. It seemed like Mirkwood stood in the way of it achieving its goal, and that it had marked him as the main key to destroying that obstacle.

Legolas closed his eyes, and went through the situation in Mirkwood once more. He did this constantly, trying to figure out if he was missing something. Something important. He needed to stay sharp and no matter how much he would never admit it, he was worried.

Before he had left home he had told Kirion that if their father wrote to him he should read the letter and bring it to Glorfindel so he could offer his advice. To the first letter he should reply that he had gone out with the twins and afterwards if word came that he was needed at home then he should have Glorfindel try to contact him.

Legolas sat through his watch and Elladan's, so two thirds of the night passed before he moved closer to Elrohir and gently shook his shoulder. He was loath to wake the twin, Valar knew that they weren't getting enough rest as it was, but he knew that his body needed sleep as well and if he took all the watches from there to the end of the journey, he wouldn't be of much help. Besides taking watches was just as much about trust than anything else, and was a natural thing when travelling or patrolling.

Elrohir's eyes refocused and his eyebrows furrowed in confusion when he saw that it was Legolas waking him when it was supposed to have been Elladan. He looked around the campsite and could find neither head nor hide of him.

"Where is Elladan?" Elrohir asked, bordering on panic, and sat up.

Legolas shook his head with a small smile to remove Elrohir's panic and then said, "He walked into the forest after having a nightmare. He will be back again by dawn, as he has the past nights."

Elrohir's eyes saddened. Wearing a dejected expression he looked into the sky. "You took his watch as well?"

"Yes."

"Next time just wake me when half the night is past." Elrohir then said, "Or maybe we should have Elladan take the first watch."

"Perhaps." Legolas replied. He then moved to unroll his bedroll and unclasped his cloak so he could cover himself more properly with it. He glanced up at Elrohir before lying down. The twin was staring into the flames with a worried expression on his face.

"He'll be back in the morning." Legolas repeated gently as he lay down. Elrohir took his eyes off the fire and looked at him. "Do not worry."

"He is my brother, I cannot not worry." Elrohir responded.

Legolas chuckled and nodded his agreement. As Elrohir resumed his fire gazing, he shifted position so he was lying on his side and laid his head on his bent arm, staring into the flames as well.

"Go to sleep." Elrohir said after a while, "I will wake you if anything happens."

Legolas did as he said, vowing to himself that one way or another he would get the twins to smile again. It had been too long without their laugher and banter, despite the many times he had complained about that in the past.

He slipped into the land of dreams and could do nothing to protest as his mind drew up one of his old memories.

Legolas woke of to the sound of hushed voices, sniggering and footsteps beside his bedroll. They were barely audible and he was sure that the only reason he had heard them was because he was 'an extraordinarily light sleeper' according to his father. His eyes focused and he saw the forms of Húron and his best friend Anunir sneaking their way through the sleeping patrol.

"Húron, Anunir." Legolas called softly. Both of the elves startled and whipped their heads around to look at him. "What are you doing? The Captain's orders are not to leave the camp."

Húron seemed to relax when he saw who it was and smiled to Legolas. "He's overreacting, there is nothing out there. Come with us Legolas. We're going to investigate which color the enchanted river really is."

Legolas´ brows furrowed, "It's black. And I don't think you should ignore the Captain's orders, he has a lot more experience than we do."

Húron groaned exasperated, "Come on Legolas, loosen up a bit. You aren't home at the moment; you don't have to follow your father's every command. You should use this opportunity to do something exiting."

Legolas shook his head slowly, "I don't think it's a good idea."

Húron's eyes turned slightly mocking, "Or is it that you're afraid and don't know what to do when there aren't any order you need to follow?"

The tips of Legolas' ears reddened, and he closed his eyes for some seconds praying that he wasn't doing something incredibly stupid as he closed his hands around his bow and stood up to join them.

They journeyed from the campsite and through the forest until they arrived at a winding black river. All three of the young warriors, Legolas being the youngest, stopped in amazement and sat down by its bank. Húron and Anunir managed to make Legolas' nervousness go away by treating him completely normal and even bantering with him. Too late did Legolas realize that it hadn't been nervousness he had been feeling, it had been a warning.

Orcs flooded out of the forest and immediately the three warriors' lightheartedness and joy changed to horror as battle commenced. Legolas pulled slightly behind Húron and Anunir and aided them with the bow, killing each orc his eyes marked.

Though the three youngsters fought valiantly there were simply too many of them. Anunir was the first to get restrained, then Húron and lastly Legolas. All of them had acquired injuries and as the orcs drew up Anunir, Legolas and Húron caught each other's eyes, both were shining with horror but an unrestrained amount of guilt was also present in Húron's.

The next thing seemed to happen in slow motion for all three of the elves. The orcs holding Legolas and Húron grabbed their heads and forced them to turn towards their companion. They barely had time to realize what was happening before the orc who had been holding Anunir drew his sword and used it to pierce through Anunir's side. Three screams sounded, one of pain and two of horror. They barely had time to recover before the orc yanked the blade out and pierced him once more.

Tears were running down Húron's cheeks and he struggled desperately to get out of the orcs' grips while changing between shouting curses and just screaming. Legolas kept his eyes locked with Anunir throughout the whole ordeal, whenever the ashen-faced elf opening his eyes, offering whatever strength and comfort he could.

The sword was drove through his body again and again until the elf's light vanished from his body and he slumped in the orcs' grips. This was when Legolas fought back. Húron seemed to have lost all will because he was staring at Anunir's body with an all-consuming guilt and horror.

In desperation Legolas released his aura and managed to fling the two orcs that were holding him away. Not having that much control over his powers yet he immediately felt exhaustion well up inside him. Before he could do anything four orcs threw themselves on top of him and he was squashed into the grass.

They beat him and then pulled him up from the ground to face the leader, who was still holding the bloodied sword, he had used to kill Anunir.

"That power…" The orc sneered. It was an evil, grated sound that dug deeply into Legolas' ears. It was clear that the orc usually spoke in the black tongue. "You are the Prince."

Legolas felt panic well up inside him at this sentence. The situation had already started spinning out of control the moment the orcs had stepped out from the tree line, but now… They had lost a friend, the orcs knew he was the prince of Mirkwood, and Húron looked like he was being swallowed by his emotions not even noticing what was going on around him until Legolas' first pained groan rung out.

The lead orc raised the whip once more. "Let's see what the King thinks about his son being injured. Oh I would love to see the look on his face when he gets you back weeping and broken." He laughed evilly before bringing the crude device down on the young Prince's back once more.

Legolas hunched forward, his expression scrunched up in agony. Húron started cursing and screaming again, tears streaming down his cheeks. This was his entire fault! He had killed his friend and now Legolas was being tortured because of him. Húron kept screaming hoping that somehow it would be heard by the patrol. And it did.

Just as Legolas thought he would pass out an arrow shot out from the trees and hit the orc holding the whip in the heart. Elves flooded into the clearing, fighting the many orcs.

Through hazy eyes Legolas thought he saw his Captain rushing towards him with a panicked expression on his face and fired arrows at the orcs that were holding his arms. He reached him just in time to catch Legolas from falling into the grass and held him close mindful of the wounds on his back.

"Prince Legolas!" He called out worriedly as Legolas' eyes fell shut.

With difficulty Legolas forced his eyes open. "Cap'ain…" he breathed weakly.

The next half hour ended up in confusion for Legolas as he slipped in and out of consciousness. He heard the elves cry out in horror when they saw Anunir and heard Húron's mutterings, "It's my fault. It's my fault. It's my fault. It's my fault." He didn't stop even though the other elves tried to calm him down. He felt as the wounds on his back were hastily wound in bandages and then he was placed on a horse. He felt his Captain's reassuring aura behind him the entire time as they speed towards the halls. Whenever he regained consciousness he would murmur reassurances to him and tell him to go back to sleep. By the time they reached the halls Legolas had fallen so deeply into unconsciousness that he didn't react or respond to anything.

When next he woke up he was lying on his stomach in a soft bed, with a minimal amount of pain in his back do to the drugs that were at the same time making the world seem hazy.

The second he opened his eyes he saw his father. Thranduil was sleeping in the chair beside his bed. There was a stack of papers on the bedside table, which showed that the king had been working while looking after him.

Just at that moment what had happened came crashing back to him and his throat tightened. Anunir was dead. They had killed him right in front of him. Tears welled up in Legolas' eyes and as the first sob left him he buried his face in his pillow and sobbed his heart out. It wasn't long before arms encircled him mindful of his wounds and a hand started running repeatedly over his head.

"Shh…" His father's voice sounded gently, relieved and sad. "You're safe Greenleaf. I have you."

He kept repeating the sentence until he was apparently handed a cup of tea by a healer. As soon as Thranduil drew him up and placed the mug to his lips, forcing him to drink it, Legolas felt himself swirl back into the dark oblivion.

Húron changed after the incident, a part of him had died with Anunir that night, and since then he had followed every command and every rule he was given to the outmost of his strength. He had come to see Legolas a week after he had woken up and had been but a shadow of his former self. He had apologized repeatedly, frantically, despite Legolas' attempts to reassure him.

"Where have you been?" Elrohir's voice sounded almost angrily through the camp as Legolas' eyes refocused.

Legolas felt the familiar ache in his chest from the dream and closed his eyes in sadness. He was glad that neither of the twins seemed to realize he was awake.

"Don't just ignore me, talk to me. I am your brother Elladan!" He could hear from Elrohir's voice that he was bordering on desperation.

"Just out." Elladan replied disinterestedly.

"Please don't shut me out Dan…" Elrohir pleaded, "Please… I can't take it."

Elladan made no reply.

"Elladan!" Elrohir cried in desperation, and then his voice dropped to a begging again. "Elladan please. Talk to me. …I can't do this without you. I am losing you…"

"You are not losing me." Elladan said unemotionally.

"Yes I am. You do not speak to me; you do not let me help you. I can barely feel you inside me, but I can see you slowly swirling down where I cannot follow. Please Elladan, let's go home. Let us stop this. I do not want to lose you… I cannot lose you as well." Elrohir choked out the last part.

"Then go home, if that is what you want." Elladan said coldly, standing up. "I am not stopping you. You're free to go."

Legolas heard Elladan's footsteps leave the camp.

"Elladan!" Elrohir choked heartbreakingly, "Please don't go! Elladan!" He let out a choked sob, "I'm sorry… Don't go…" heart-wrenching crying soon rung out through the camp.

Legolas, unable to pretend he was sleeping any longer, stood up and went over the where Elrohir was rocking back and forth. The twin had his arms wrapped tightly around himself, sobbing. He sat down beside the elf and pulled him into his arms, shushing him gently and running his hand repeatedly over his hair.

As he continued to listen to Elrohir's sobs, Legolas' anger at Elladan grew. No matter how hard he tried he couldn't justify his behavior this time, especially as he listened to the anguished and inconsolable cries.

"I don't know what to do…" Elrohir choked between sobs.

Legolas shushed him gently and tightened his arms around his trembling form. He focused his calm aura and pressed it into Elrohir, striving to calm him down. Slowly Elrohir's crying abated so Legolas gently lowered him down so he was lying on the grass. He looked deeply into his grief and anguish-stricken eyes, which seemed to be staring straight through him as if he wasn't there. The weariness in Elrohir's expression was beyond measure and Legolas knew that this rejection from Elladan had hurt him, badly.

Legolas started humming a lullaby and took Elrohir's hands in his, hoping that it would comfort him. Elrohir was staring blankly into space an expression of deep hurt etched in his face. At Legolas' song tears started rolling silently down his cheeks once more and after a while his eyes closed in sleep, signifying his closeness to breaking point.

Legolas continued humming and stayed close to him. He was suddenly frightfully aware of the fact that Elrohir seemed to be fading, quickly. Elladan was the only thing holding him to life, so if he disappeared…

He gently pulled Elrohir up so his upper body and head were lying on his lap and ran his hand absentmindedly over his hair and forehead to soothe away his worry and send him into a peaceful sleep. He felt Elrohir's body respond to his touches and gentle aura by relaxing completely and slowing his breathing.

Seeing that his cloak was inside his reach, Legolas took it and covered Elrohir with it, drawing it all the way up to his neck. Then he just sat there occasionally humming as he continued to watch over Elrohir's sleep and wait for Elladan's return.

Not even half an hour passed until Elladan's footsteps hesitantly neared the camp. Legolas didn't even raise his eyes as he stopped at the edge, he was still feeling angry with the twin. He did look up however when five minutes had passed and Elladan hadn't moved an inch. He felt his anger get dampened slightly by the enormous amount of guilt and devastation in Elladan's eyes. He seemed to be frozen with his eyes locked on his brother's form. Legolas knew he would be able to clearly see the tear tracks down his cheeks and the shadows under his closed eyes.

Legolas opened his mouth to say something, but at that moment both he and Elladan picked up multiple heavy footsteps through the forest. Elladan's expression hardened once more and his head whipped around to look into the trees.

When he took one step towards the forest Legolas said sharply, "If you go after them once more then I will consider this your choice. Elrohir cannot keep handling this."

Elladan froze and looked back with clashing emotions in his eyes. A long time passed before he slowly turned around and took a step towards them. At that moment though the scream of a dying dear rung through the woods and fury flooded into Elladan's eyes. He turned around and was gone within the span of a second.

Legolas felt all the air leave him in a whoosh of betrayal. Had that really just happened…? He had just left his brother… It had been impossible for him not to understand that this was a matter of life and death… He couldn't move, he could just stare at the point where Elladan was disappeared into the trees.

"Elladan!" Elrohir gasped and bolted up. He seemed to be in frenzy, there was panic in his eyes as he located his sword and then ran into the forest after his brother.

Legolas cursed heartedly before gathering his weapons and cloak and running into the forest as well. As he ran towards the sound of battle he draped his cloak over his shoulders and raised his hood so it laid his face in shadow. Then he strapped his weapons in their respective places, keeping his bow notched in his hand.

As he entered the clearing where the fight was Legolas discovered to his horror that these were no orcs …these were humans. Sure they looked like bad guys, but still…

All his hesitation evaporated however and was replaced with horror and anger when Elrohir threw himself in front of his recently disarmed brother and took a blow that had been meant for him. Legolas and Elladan watched in horror as a knife pierced through Elrohir's chest, dangerously close to the heart. Elrohir gasped and stumbled backwards against his brother before tumbling to the ground.

Without wasting a second Legolas let his arrow fly, slamming into the chest of the man who had injured the twin.

"ELROHIR!" Elladan screamed in aguish and frantically threw himself down by his brother's side, blind to anything else. Legolas continued to fire arrows trying to cover Elladan and Elrohir as well, but there were only so many places he could be at one time. It wasn't long before one of the men smashed a club against Elladan's head sending him unconscious on top of Elrohir's prone form.

Legolas kept firing arrows until they came too close and then whipped out his knives. He caught the first sword with his knives and quickly dispatched the man before turning to the next. There were so many of them… and he had been forced to leave the twins defenseless.

He glanced up towards the twins and saw that Elladan was slowly coming to. He wore a dazed expression and the side of his face was already covered in blood. Two men came over and dragged him to his feet.

At that moment a human rider entered the scene. Legolas knew straight away that it was the leader of the gathering, due to the authority he seemed to shine, but that was not the only thing he saw. He also saw something else, something that made his blood run cold. There was a small, embroidered crest on his tunic. Slave traders.

Legolas continued to fight, not affording to concentrate anywhere else for much longer. He hadn't fought long though when a shout rung through the forest.

"Stop!"

Legolas could hear the cold command in the voice and felt shivers down his spine. All the men stopped immediately, simply freezing in place at the sound of his voice, but Legolas wasn't intimidated. Like hell he was following this man's orders!

He glanced up and had to contradict his last statement when he saw a sword being held to Elladan's neck. He quickly jumped behind one of the humans and held a knife to his neck as well, staring into the leader's cold grey eyes.

"Release him." Legolas said dangerously, his own face still concealed by the hood.

The leader did something he didn't expect, he laughed. "Do you think I care about whether or not he dies?" He asked indifferently, "Drop your weapons."

Legolas stiffened, he could hear from the cold tone in the man's voice that he was completely serious and he was not joking about killing Elladan. He glanced down at Elrohir and saw his chest shake with a shallow breath. He was alive.

Legolas took his knife off the man's throat and threw them onto the ground despite Elladan's weak protests. Immediately someone grabbed him from behind and kicked him to the ground.

"Be still Elladan." Legolas said softly in elvish to his panicking friend, knowing that he would hear it. "Elrohir lives." Elladan visibly sagged in the men's grips.

The leader quickly dismounted his horse and briefly eyed the twins before turning his attention to Legolas, unperturbedly walked towards him. He stopped just short of his reach and stared at him although not having a chance at seeing his face because of the hood, he was though instantly aware of the fact that this elf was not to be messed with and from the way he held himself, even on his knees, showed that he was from the upper classes.

As the human stepped into his reach to pull off his hood Legolas pulled one of his hands from the humans' holds and punched him soundly over the head. The leader stumbled back from the force with an angry expression on his face.

"Hold him you idiots!" He barked.

Immediately Legolas was restrained once more, this time they tied thick rope tightly around his wrists and used the end of the rope to hold him down, while another two pressed down on his shoulders.

The leader reached out once more and this time succeeded in flicking the hood off his head. Immediately the human's eyes widened as fair silvery-white hair tumbled out from under the dark hood and perfectly framed a flawless face, with endless icy blue eyes, currently hardened and sharpened like steel. He was not the least bit in doubt that if he let the elf go then he would kill him without issues.

The leader whistled lowly at Legolas' appearance and reached out to touch his cheek. Legolas evaded the hand, a low dangerous sound almost like a growl coming from the back his throat. The leader wisely walked away.

He crouched down next to Elrohir, ignoring the struggling and protesting that Elladan was doing and saying dangerously, "I told you never to fatally injure."

"They came out of the blue sir." One of the others answered. Muscled, tall, short beard and brown shoulder-length hair, probably the next in command. Legolas took note of everyone in the company, making small notes to himself.

"They are e…e…elves sir, they ca…can't be killed easily." Another stuttered. Short, red-haired, nervous, weak, first to take out.

"I don't care!" The leader snapped, "We could have gotten a lot money out of him. Now there is nothing else to do than to kill him, it's a miracle he lasted this long anyway."

"If we kill an elf sir, won't he come back to haunt us?" Another asked. Blond, lean, archer, superstitious, possibility of terrifying him.

"You idiot! There are no such things as ghosts!" The man beside him exclaimed and slapped him over the head. Short, muscled, brawn, don't fight close combat unless you want to break bones.

"SHUT UP!" The leader finally roared, all of his men quieted immediately.

There were thirty men besides them they had already killed, which from where he was being held down, looked to be about fifteen. No one seemed to have cared for any of the dead because they didn't even try to gather the corpses or show any form of emotion.

The leader took out a knife and made to slice Elrohir's throat with it when Legolas said deadly calm, "You don't want to do that."

Legolas could almost see the way the man's eyebrow twitched in annoyance despite only having view of his back. It didn't matter though, as long as that knife went nowhere near Elrohir's neck.

Four men were currently restraining Elladan, bringing the hysteric elf farther and farther away from his brother. Legolas could see from the wild look in his eyes that he had been reduced to mere instinct and at the moment that was to protect his brother.

"And why elf don't I want to do this?" The leader finally said exasperated and turned around to look angrily at him.

Legolas met his gaze squarely allowing his own to become blank as if it wasn't his friends he was talking about. "Because you won't be standing with the death of only one elf in your hands, but two. Look at his brother now, what do you think will happen once you kill the only thing holding him to life? The only thing you have in your possession that will force him to do as you say.

The leader's eyes narrowed, but Legolas could tell that he wasn't entirely convinced yet so he pulled another straw.

"If you kill that elf, his brother will die as well. Now that leaves me alone, with you. You are completely aware of the fact that the only reason you could put me in this position is because you put a knife to one of their throats. I will escape. The only way you can stop that is if you tie me to a pole and then I won't be of much use to you. Furthermore, I don't think you want me escaping."

"And why is that?"

"Because judging by the amount of travel dust and supplies you have with you I would guess that your location is perhaps a couple of hours to half a day from here and if I were to escape I wouldn't fail to pass this information on to the highest authority. Slave trading isn't legal in these parts of Middle Earth and I'm sure there are other things you don't want to be caught for."

The man's lips were slowly curling into a sneer.

"Now you're probably thinking that you're just going to relocate if I ever get past all your…" Legolas looked around with distaste. "…Valiant men, but ask yourself how much more trouble would this be compared to taking one wounded elf with you and allow for us to treat him until he gets better?"

The man shot to his feet and stalked over to him. Legolas knew what was coming and braced himself just before the man's foot connected with his abdomen. The air whooshed out of his regardless, and he was forced to gasp and cough. This gave the man opportunity to grab him under the chin and force his head up.

"You're damn smart elf." He said with a low tone, "And pretty too, I can get a lot of money for you, but perhaps I'll just keep you completely to myself see I've taken quite a liking to you." As Legolas wrenched his head out of his hold, he then straightened out and addressed the men, "No one touches this ones face, but once we get home we'll have to show him his place! Let's go, we're taking the dead one with us, three of you stay and bury these idiots. Get them up!"

As the leader walked back to his horse the men holding Legolas pulled him up from the ground. Legolas waited until the two holding his shoulders let go before yanking the rope out of the third man's hands and quickly jumped over his tied hands so they were in front of him while hurrying over to where Elrohir was lying.

Elladan forced himself out of his captors' hands as well and skidded to his knees on the other side of the twin. He stared white-faced at his brother in shock and seemed to have frozen while Legolas checked the elf.

Legolas placed his fingers against Elrohir's pulse before checking his breathing as well. As he did this he glanced behind him to the men who were just about to grab him when the leader silently held up his hand, allowing them to take care of Elrohir.

"Elladan!" Legolas barked to the elder twin, managing to jerk him out of his reverie. "Stop the bleeding with your tunic."

Elladan stared wide-eyed at him for a moment but then took off his tunic and bundled it together before pressing it against his brother's chest. Elrohir was breathing weakly and from the already ashen color of his complexion and lips they knew that he couldn't afford to lose any more blood. Elrohir gave a low moan as Elladan put pressure on the wound, in response Elladan immediately let go and jerked back in horror.

Without wasting time Legolas reached over and pressed his bound hands against the wound instead. Elrohir moaned once more and immediately Elladan tried to remove his hands.

"Elladan stop!" Legolas said with authority, "I'm trying to save him. I need you to calm down right now because this is not helping Elrohir. Now take a deep breath and try to comfort him, do not panic." Elladan could do nothing but robotically obey him, his hands were shaking as they reached up and caressed his twin's cheeks.

Legolas started pushing his energy into his unconscious friend, not caring if it weakened him. The wound was dangerous even to an elf with great healing powers …and Elrohir had already been weakened beforehand. He wouldn't survive this without support, and without Elrond there this was the only thing he could do. He had more than the basic healing training, but still not enough for a wound like this and Elladan was in no condition to make wise choices, so what was left was to transfer his energy. It wouldn't do anything to heal the wound but hopefully it would give Elrohir enough strength to cling to life until he could treat it more properly.

Not nearly enough time passed in his opinion before he was once more yanked up from the ground, his time up.

"Elladan tie a strip of your cloak around his chest to hold the tunic in place." He said and watched as Elladan obeyed his command.

He noticed the leader walking towards him but didn't turn his head before he was standing beside him. "Why does he follow your commands?" He asked.

Legolas raised his chin slightly and answered, "He is distraught and he trusts me." He paused and then said, "You would do well to release us now, this will sooner or later spin out of your control and I will not shelter you when it does."

The leader's eyes narrowed, "Who are you?"

"No one you know." Legolas answered.

The leader expression flickered for a second in annoyance and anger before he brought his fist against Legolas' ribcage. Legolas sucked in breath, but was otherwise unaffected. Damn human really thought that would be enough to make him answer him?

"I'll ask you one more time elf. Who are you?" The man growled. Then the elf did something he hadn't expected, he chuckled and shook his head like one would do over a silly child.

"It will not make a difference."

The leader looked flustered by the elf's obvious lack of fear, but even more over his near amusement. "You think this is funny elf?" He snarled.

Legolas expression sharpened and his eyes bored deeply into him, "Not in the least."

The man growled and punched Legolas once more before walking back towards his horse barking orders, "We leave now. We'll see if they have anything valuable in their camp first. Leave it to the dark-haired one to carry his brother."

Elladan's eyes snapped up furiously, for once focusing more on their situation than his twin. Legolas saw that he was about to shout curses at the men and immediately called his name sharply. Elladan's mouth snapped shut and he glared at Legolas.

"It will not help Elrohir." Legolas said softly in elvish, "Just carry him and let them focus on me instead." When Elladan still looked doubtful Legolas added, "He needs you Elladan. Even with the energy I gave him and unconscious or not this journey will be tough on him. Do not add to it by making yourself a target and inviting them to make you jostle him."

Elladan finally nodded curtly and scooped Elrohir into his arms. Elrohir gave a small whimper and turned his head so his cheek was pressed against his brother's chest, no doubt seeking comfort.

"Do not worry brother." Elladan whispered, "I will not leave you."

The strongest of the group stalked up to Legolas and grabbed the rope hanging from his tied wrists before jerking him in the direction of their camp. Legolas cursed inside himself. He had hoped that they would leave the camp be. Móre and the twins' horses were tied up there.

He complied silently with the yank and started walking, still keeping a sharp eye on his surroundings. The leader of the gathering took the lead and the others followed soon behind except the three staying to bury the dead men. Elladan was walking farther up in the group. Legolas could see a slight unsteadiness to his walk, no doubt from the hit to the head.

"Captain Turner?"

Turner… So that was his name, no doubt last name but still. Legolas glanced at the man who has spoken. Bald, dark-skinned, muscled, possibly from the southern lands, unknown.

"Wouldn't it be more prudent to let them go?" The dark-skinned man asked in a deep voice. It was clear that he wasn't saying it because of fear, but reason. "You heard yourself that there was no lie in his voice."

"Shut up Armand!" Turner barked, "I do not want to hear about your readings now."

Legolas felt Armand's eyes on him and turned his head to look deeply into the black eyes that seemed to be trying hardly to figure him out. His eyes looked confused as they tried to see into him but were unable.

"There is something different about him…" Armand said slowly.

"Armand!"

Legolas turned his head back to the road and looked at the twins. Elladan was still walking unsteadily, but although he hated watching it he could do nothing about it.

What happened next made him want to bang his head against the nearest tree. One of the men at the side said something mocking to Elladan and instead of ignoring he snapped something at the man, making his face contort in anger before he drew his fist back. He never got the chance at that moment Legolas tugged the rope so roughly the man on the other end tumbled to the ground, his strength not being able to match that of an elf. This took the attention off the twins.

Unfortunately Legolas was pulled to the ground not a second later by men who had rushed towards him once he had pulled on the rope. There were several men around him taking turns kicking him in the chest and back, plus whatever else they could reach without hitting his head.

"Stop it!" Captain Turner bellowed angrily.

The man he had pulled to the ground gave Legolas one last hard kick to the ribcage before stopping along with all the others. Legolas breathed raggedly; when it had turned mostly normal he sighed and slowly sat up, pressing his arm against his ribcage.

"Get him up!" The leader called, "We continue."

Legolas was yanked roughly to his feet and the journey began again. He hadn't realized it was this far when he had run the way in haste. They soon entered the abandoned camp and the men quickly set about ravaging and searching everything. Legolas knew that there was much in his possession that could link him to being the prince of Mirkwood if only they were smart enough to figure it out.

The men quickly found the horses and Legolas had to literally order Móre to obey the men. They could not escape now; Elrohir was not strong enough for the journey and certainly not a rushed journey with the men behind them.

"Is it the way of elves to sacrifice one self in order to draw attention away from friends?" A deep voice sounded suddenly behind him.

Legolas turned his head and said lowly, "Only if it's worth it."

Armand looked once again deeply into his eyes. When he hadn't discovered anything after a while he tilted his head to him and walked away.

Legolas looked around the gathering but his gaze halted when he saw that the man who had been carrying his weapons was trying his bow. He was barely able to pull the string back because of its draw weight. The man's eyes widened and he lowered the bow to study it instead, running his fingers over its leafy pattern. Legolas growled lowly.

Suddenly he seemed to discover something, "Captain!" Legolas cursed inwardly, "There's an insignia on this."

Turner turned towards the sound and walked up to them man, taking the bow out of his hands. Carefully studying the insignia.

"My, my." Turner clucked, "We seem to be in royal company boy. This is the royal crest of Mirkwood."

He turned around and Legolas immediately straightened in response to the cold anger in his eyes. Before his eyes had been cold yes, and wary, but now his eyes had taken a definite note of hostility and old feud. Something had apparently happened between him and Mirkwood, how lucky could he be?

Legolas was aware of Armand's eyes on him but ignored it and concentrated on Captain Turner as he walked towards him, the anger in his eyes growing with each step, as he seemed to remember an old past.

"How lucky could I be?" The man said lowly as he started circling him, "Finding you out here in the wild so far from your home, just for the taking? No wonder you wouldn't give away your identity. I suppose the King wouldn't leave to go here so I guess you're a Prince."

Turner kicked the back of his knees and forced him to crash on his knees with a grunt. The next attack was a punch aimed at his head but it did nothing more, than make him tilt slightly to the side before he caught himself.

"My family's greatest enemy kneeling before me." Turner said with a satisfied growl in his voice as he moved so he was standing before Legolas. Legolas' eyes were as sharp as a knife as he bore through Turner's, showing that although he was on his knees he was still higher than him and he wouldn't back down for anything.

Anger flashed through the leader's eyes and he smacked him over the cheek so hardly Legolas was sent to the ground. He shook his head and spit out a small amount of blood before straightening out once more. He briefly caught Elladan's horrified and angered eyes.

Captain Turner crouched before him and took a hold of his jaw, "What do you think you father would say to me making you a slave and breaking you so badly he has no chance of putting you back together. I will keep you for months even years, but I won't kill you, oh no, I'll wait until you're so broken you're begging me to kill you and then I will send you back to him as a present."

"Then you're going to have to wait a very, very long time." Legolas growled.

Turner removed his grip and stood up, "I'm a patient man." He then turned to the group, "Let's go!"