Taken
ch. 11
disclaimer: I don't own any of this, it all belongs to Tolkien. This is just for fun, I'm not making any money off it.
A/N: Thanks, as always, to Cathy, for sending this little bunny my way! Once again, we're picking right up where we left off!
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Thranduil watched horrified as the long-dead human sat up from the dais, and stared at his surroundings.
The human looked utterly shocked, and the Elven King had a feeling he himself wore a similar expression. Beside him, Elrond made a horrible choking noise as his sons collapsed onto the ground. Elladan was obscured from his view by the dais, but Thranduil could see Elrohir, and what he saw wasn't good.
His body was twisted and deformed, his skin blackened and leathery looking. Even his hair had lost it's healthy lustre. It spread out around his head, all greasy and dead looking.
The only thing that remained unchanged was his eyes, they were still soft and grey, but empty, as though no one were there.
Thranduil was given no time to cope with this shock as he was dealt a second mere moments later.
The Lady Galadriel ran into the room, her bare feet padding almost soundlessly on the rock floor. Though her entrance was quiet, no one could have missed her. She brought a brilliant light with her, wherever she went, and she lit up the dim cavern effortlessly.
She gave a soft cry, and help up her hand, palm out, and reduced the orcs to ashes. Then she rushed forward, and gathered her grandson's ruined forms close to her.
Thranduil was certain she spoke, but he couldn't remember what she said. His cousin Celeborn's wife always made it difficult for any male of any race to focus on anything but her.
Thranduil shook his head, and focused on Elrond. "Elrond! Elrond, we have to get loose!"
There was no response. The Elf Lord just hung limply from the chains, a blank look on his face, it was as though his mind had left with his sons.
Thranduil twisted in his chains, and managed to nudge Elrond in the ribs with his toe. Still nothing. Thranduil sighed, and let his head fall back against the wall.
Alright, fine. He was clearly on his own. The rest of the elves in the room had apparently temporarily lost their minds.
Across the room, Machiad was distracted by an argument with Soleair, the younger was demanding a key from his father.
The Elven King watched, bemused, as Soleair actually tackled the old man, and began searching his person for the key.
"He won't find it." A soft voice whispered in his ear.
Thranduil turned, and found himself looking into brilliant green eyes. It took him a moment to realize that, as lovely as they were, they were set in a face that was warped and twisted by the cruel intentions of an evil wizard.
"Sneak." He smiled at her, as she held the key in front of his face.
"I can't stand up straight anymore, and even if I could, I wouldn't be able to reach your arms."
Thranduil thought a moment, "Can you balance yourself on my leg, if I brace it against the wall?"
She nodded, and he bent his left leg, and braced his foot against the wall. She, in turn, placed one foot on his calf, and the other in a crack in the wall behind him, and quickly unchained him.
His arms dropped to his sides, and he sighed in relief. Sneak handed him the key, and Thranduil quickly unchained Elrond, who, of course, simply slumped to the floor.
He turned to Sneak, "Can you stay with Elrond? I'm going to fix this mess once and for all."
Sneak nodded her assent, and Thranduil walked across the room, kicking orc ash left and right as he strode along. He stopped a moment beside Galadriel, and, placing a hand on her golden head, murmured in her ear. She looked up at him, and he saw the silver tracks staining her lovely cheeks. He brushed a tear away, and smiled, before moving to unbind his son.
Legolas wasn't in much better condition that Elrond. Well, Thranduil could take that from Elrond, but it wasn't going to wash with Legolas. He unlocked the chains, and Legolas sank slowly to the ground, his knees tucked up against his chest.
Thranduil sighed, and grabbed his son by the arm. He felt kind of bad about yanking the poor lad about like this, but he needed help to pull this off. Since Elrond's mind was bye bye at the moment, and Aragorn didn't look like he could stand on his own, it had to be Legolas.
The Elven King pulled Legolas to his feet, and thumped him on the back, just hard enough to surprise him. Legolas looked at his father with wide blue eyes, and for an instant, Thranduil saw his wife standing before him. The vision very nearly drove him to his knees, but he quickly pulled himself together, and handed the key to Legolas.
"Free your mortal friend, I'm going to deal with Machiad." Legolas nodded, and moved toward Aragorn.
Thranduil left him to his task, and covered the ground between Machiad and himself in 5 long strides.
He caught Soleair by the shoulder, and yanked him back. The sheer strength in Thranduils arm send the formerly dead soldier sprawling backwards. Before Machiad could cast his freezing spell, Thranduil brought his fist down hard on the old man's head.
He slumped to the ground, and didn't move. At that moment, Gandalf arrived.
~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~
A/N: I would just like to point out that I was considering stopping at this point, and posting last night. However, I knew someone would come after me with sharp objects, or give themself a skull fracture by pounding their head on a wall without a helmet. So I opted to continue :)
~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~
Gandalf surveyed the scene before him. Elrond was sitting, staring blankly at the floor, Sneak was beside him, patting his cheek, trying to bring him back to reality.
Thranduil stood over the limp form of Machiad, fist raised over his head. The look in his eyes was one that had not been seen in many hundreds of years, and it was enough to freeze a raging Balrog in it's tracks.
Legolas sat on the floor, cradling a bleeding Aragorns head in his lap, while a strange young man Gandalf didn't recognise, but took to be Soleair, was tending his many wounds gently.
Galadriel was sitting on the floor, cradling two shrivelled and ruined forms in her lap.
Gandalf sighed, they were too late to stop Machiad from working his dark magic, so they would just have to find a way to undo it.
He strode forward with more power than one would expect from one who looked so aged. He caught Thranduil's fist before he could deliver a second blow to the unconscious sorcerer.
He patted the Elven King on the shoulder, "Instead of killing him, mellon nin, why don't we tie him up and get some answers?"
Thranduil looked severly disappointed at being thwarted in this manner, but he acquiesced, and between the two of them, they bound Machiad to the very dais where his son had been lying only moments before.
Gandalf then ignored the unconscious wizard, and turned toward Galadriel.
"My Lady, I realize that you wish to comfort and care for your grandsons, but I need your help. Perhaps we can relegate your burden to Elrond?"
Galadriel nodded softly, and allowed Thranduil and Gandalf to gently pick up the twins, and place them next to their father, who snapped out of his stupor enough to gather them close.
"Thranduil, can you watch Machiad? Let me know the instant he awakens, Galadriel and I will tend to Aragorn."
Thranduil nodded, and stood near Machiad's head, occasionally giving the unconscious sorcerer dark looks out of the corner of his eye.
The High Queen of the Elvenkind, and the Grey Pilgrim knelt on either side of Aragorn, who was now lying on his stomach, with his head on his arms, while Legolas and Soleair gently cleaned the wounds on his back.
There were so many welts criss crossing his tender skin, that Gandalf winced at the pain he must surely be in. And yet, he made no complaint, only flinched occasionally, when one of them hit a particularly sore spot.
With four people working at it, his wounds were cleaned in short order.bg Gandalf produced some healing herbs from the folds of his robes, and Aragorn sighed in relief as they were applied, then he was bandaged, and Legolas helped him to sit up.
As they finished, Machiad moaned softly, and his eyes flickered open.
He took in the sight before him, which was basically Thranduil staring down at him, with dark fury burning in his icy blue eyes, and opened his mouth to cast the freezing spell. Galadriel merely waved her delicate hand in his direction, and a glowing sphere coalesced around him, and he was rendered impotent..
Gandalf stood beside Thranduil. "Now, you will tell us how to reverse this spell, and send your son back to Mandos where he belongs, or we will make your life VERY painful. And believe me, Thranduil is more than willing to accomodate me on the second part."
~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~
Heh heh. Okay, so things are looking up for our heroes! Now, maybe you all will let me live? Please? *author looks a little nervous* I really would like to write a sequel to this, and I have some other fics in the works as well, some of them will even be happy, and funny! Anyways, tune in tomorrow!
~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~
more A/N:
Nikki: *hands her a paper bag, and the next chappie* There ya go! Keep reading!
Halo: No, no! See? Everything looks like it'll be ok now, right? Don't be evil in your bunny, please!
Sake Girl: Thanks for all the reviews!! Keep reading!
Kasandra: I plan to finish it, I promise! I'm one of the rare authors who updates daily! So keep reading!
TIO: *hands her some smelling salts* Here's more, please try not to faint!
Iawen: Don't cry! *hands her a kleenex* Keep reading!
NaughtyNat: LOL! I'm glad you're enjoying yourself! However, the Lady Galadriel has asked me to inform all who read this fic that no one, save her husband, is allowed to refer to her as 'Galaddy' and since she can reduce orcs to ashes with a wave of her lovely hand, I sincerely hope everyone listens! lol :)
Pennsuleien: *grin* yup, we sure do! I just hope they end up that way. I should tell you that this story isn't really under my control, it's kind of telling itself. Fair warning, I don't know what' happening next!
Lord Angelus: *hugs back* Of course there will be more Elrond V. Thranduil! I promise that much!
Okay, that's all for today!
XOXO
Cor
ch. 11
disclaimer: I don't own any of this, it all belongs to Tolkien. This is just for fun, I'm not making any money off it.
A/N: Thanks, as always, to Cathy, for sending this little bunny my way! Once again, we're picking right up where we left off!
~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~
Thranduil watched horrified as the long-dead human sat up from the dais, and stared at his surroundings.
The human looked utterly shocked, and the Elven King had a feeling he himself wore a similar expression. Beside him, Elrond made a horrible choking noise as his sons collapsed onto the ground. Elladan was obscured from his view by the dais, but Thranduil could see Elrohir, and what he saw wasn't good.
His body was twisted and deformed, his skin blackened and leathery looking. Even his hair had lost it's healthy lustre. It spread out around his head, all greasy and dead looking.
The only thing that remained unchanged was his eyes, they were still soft and grey, but empty, as though no one were there.
Thranduil was given no time to cope with this shock as he was dealt a second mere moments later.
The Lady Galadriel ran into the room, her bare feet padding almost soundlessly on the rock floor. Though her entrance was quiet, no one could have missed her. She brought a brilliant light with her, wherever she went, and she lit up the dim cavern effortlessly.
She gave a soft cry, and help up her hand, palm out, and reduced the orcs to ashes. Then she rushed forward, and gathered her grandson's ruined forms close to her.
Thranduil was certain she spoke, but he couldn't remember what she said. His cousin Celeborn's wife always made it difficult for any male of any race to focus on anything but her.
Thranduil shook his head, and focused on Elrond. "Elrond! Elrond, we have to get loose!"
There was no response. The Elf Lord just hung limply from the chains, a blank look on his face, it was as though his mind had left with his sons.
Thranduil twisted in his chains, and managed to nudge Elrond in the ribs with his toe. Still nothing. Thranduil sighed, and let his head fall back against the wall.
Alright, fine. He was clearly on his own. The rest of the elves in the room had apparently temporarily lost their minds.
Across the room, Machiad was distracted by an argument with Soleair, the younger was demanding a key from his father.
The Elven King watched, bemused, as Soleair actually tackled the old man, and began searching his person for the key.
"He won't find it." A soft voice whispered in his ear.
Thranduil turned, and found himself looking into brilliant green eyes. It took him a moment to realize that, as lovely as they were, they were set in a face that was warped and twisted by the cruel intentions of an evil wizard.
"Sneak." He smiled at her, as she held the key in front of his face.
"I can't stand up straight anymore, and even if I could, I wouldn't be able to reach your arms."
Thranduil thought a moment, "Can you balance yourself on my leg, if I brace it against the wall?"
She nodded, and he bent his left leg, and braced his foot against the wall. She, in turn, placed one foot on his calf, and the other in a crack in the wall behind him, and quickly unchained him.
His arms dropped to his sides, and he sighed in relief. Sneak handed him the key, and Thranduil quickly unchained Elrond, who, of course, simply slumped to the floor.
He turned to Sneak, "Can you stay with Elrond? I'm going to fix this mess once and for all."
Sneak nodded her assent, and Thranduil walked across the room, kicking orc ash left and right as he strode along. He stopped a moment beside Galadriel, and, placing a hand on her golden head, murmured in her ear. She looked up at him, and he saw the silver tracks staining her lovely cheeks. He brushed a tear away, and smiled, before moving to unbind his son.
Legolas wasn't in much better condition that Elrond. Well, Thranduil could take that from Elrond, but it wasn't going to wash with Legolas. He unlocked the chains, and Legolas sank slowly to the ground, his knees tucked up against his chest.
Thranduil sighed, and grabbed his son by the arm. He felt kind of bad about yanking the poor lad about like this, but he needed help to pull this off. Since Elrond's mind was bye bye at the moment, and Aragorn didn't look like he could stand on his own, it had to be Legolas.
The Elven King pulled Legolas to his feet, and thumped him on the back, just hard enough to surprise him. Legolas looked at his father with wide blue eyes, and for an instant, Thranduil saw his wife standing before him. The vision very nearly drove him to his knees, but he quickly pulled himself together, and handed the key to Legolas.
"Free your mortal friend, I'm going to deal with Machiad." Legolas nodded, and moved toward Aragorn.
Thranduil left him to his task, and covered the ground between Machiad and himself in 5 long strides.
He caught Soleair by the shoulder, and yanked him back. The sheer strength in Thranduils arm send the formerly dead soldier sprawling backwards. Before Machiad could cast his freezing spell, Thranduil brought his fist down hard on the old man's head.
He slumped to the ground, and didn't move. At that moment, Gandalf arrived.
~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~
A/N: I would just like to point out that I was considering stopping at this point, and posting last night. However, I knew someone would come after me with sharp objects, or give themself a skull fracture by pounding their head on a wall without a helmet. So I opted to continue :)
~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~
Gandalf surveyed the scene before him. Elrond was sitting, staring blankly at the floor, Sneak was beside him, patting his cheek, trying to bring him back to reality.
Thranduil stood over the limp form of Machiad, fist raised over his head. The look in his eyes was one that had not been seen in many hundreds of years, and it was enough to freeze a raging Balrog in it's tracks.
Legolas sat on the floor, cradling a bleeding Aragorns head in his lap, while a strange young man Gandalf didn't recognise, but took to be Soleair, was tending his many wounds gently.
Galadriel was sitting on the floor, cradling two shrivelled and ruined forms in her lap.
Gandalf sighed, they were too late to stop Machiad from working his dark magic, so they would just have to find a way to undo it.
He strode forward with more power than one would expect from one who looked so aged. He caught Thranduil's fist before he could deliver a second blow to the unconscious sorcerer.
He patted the Elven King on the shoulder, "Instead of killing him, mellon nin, why don't we tie him up and get some answers?"
Thranduil looked severly disappointed at being thwarted in this manner, but he acquiesced, and between the two of them, they bound Machiad to the very dais where his son had been lying only moments before.
Gandalf then ignored the unconscious wizard, and turned toward Galadriel.
"My Lady, I realize that you wish to comfort and care for your grandsons, but I need your help. Perhaps we can relegate your burden to Elrond?"
Galadriel nodded softly, and allowed Thranduil and Gandalf to gently pick up the twins, and place them next to their father, who snapped out of his stupor enough to gather them close.
"Thranduil, can you watch Machiad? Let me know the instant he awakens, Galadriel and I will tend to Aragorn."
Thranduil nodded, and stood near Machiad's head, occasionally giving the unconscious sorcerer dark looks out of the corner of his eye.
The High Queen of the Elvenkind, and the Grey Pilgrim knelt on either side of Aragorn, who was now lying on his stomach, with his head on his arms, while Legolas and Soleair gently cleaned the wounds on his back.
There were so many welts criss crossing his tender skin, that Gandalf winced at the pain he must surely be in. And yet, he made no complaint, only flinched occasionally, when one of them hit a particularly sore spot.
With four people working at it, his wounds were cleaned in short order.bg Gandalf produced some healing herbs from the folds of his robes, and Aragorn sighed in relief as they were applied, then he was bandaged, and Legolas helped him to sit up.
As they finished, Machiad moaned softly, and his eyes flickered open.
He took in the sight before him, which was basically Thranduil staring down at him, with dark fury burning in his icy blue eyes, and opened his mouth to cast the freezing spell. Galadriel merely waved her delicate hand in his direction, and a glowing sphere coalesced around him, and he was rendered impotent..
Gandalf stood beside Thranduil. "Now, you will tell us how to reverse this spell, and send your son back to Mandos where he belongs, or we will make your life VERY painful. And believe me, Thranduil is more than willing to accomodate me on the second part."
~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~
Heh heh. Okay, so things are looking up for our heroes! Now, maybe you all will let me live? Please? *author looks a little nervous* I really would like to write a sequel to this, and I have some other fics in the works as well, some of them will even be happy, and funny! Anyways, tune in tomorrow!
~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~
more A/N:
Nikki: *hands her a paper bag, and the next chappie* There ya go! Keep reading!
Halo: No, no! See? Everything looks like it'll be ok now, right? Don't be evil in your bunny, please!
Sake Girl: Thanks for all the reviews!! Keep reading!
Kasandra: I plan to finish it, I promise! I'm one of the rare authors who updates daily! So keep reading!
TIO: *hands her some smelling salts* Here's more, please try not to faint!
Iawen: Don't cry! *hands her a kleenex* Keep reading!
NaughtyNat: LOL! I'm glad you're enjoying yourself! However, the Lady Galadriel has asked me to inform all who read this fic that no one, save her husband, is allowed to refer to her as 'Galaddy' and since she can reduce orcs to ashes with a wave of her lovely hand, I sincerely hope everyone listens! lol :)
Pennsuleien: *grin* yup, we sure do! I just hope they end up that way. I should tell you that this story isn't really under my control, it's kind of telling itself. Fair warning, I don't know what' happening next!
Lord Angelus: *hugs back* Of course there will be more Elrond V. Thranduil! I promise that much!
Okay, that's all for today!
XOXO
Cor