Frostyhorse - and thank you for the review :)
Guest - well... I can't promise that :P
alliesmiley2 - I hope this satisfies you
yasminasfeir1 - you should be scared... :D
Raider-K - hello! Thank you so much for all your reviews (they made me grin so hard) and you'll get more of that friendship... in a while... and Idhthrael is in distress, but she's definitely not a damsel. (And if you're in agony over her, then wonderful *evil laughter*) :D
CarelessMisbehaviour - yes, I love toying with your emotions :D
BlackWolf888 - well, not exactly... it would just be reckless for him to do that, and he is a prince after all. And I hope this ending doesn't count as a cliffhanger :P
Anyways, the updates might take a bit longer cause my laptop decided to crash yesterday and the next two chapters I've written was lost so I have to rewrite them :( I'll try keep within the every two/three days schedule, though. Your reviews are, as always, wonderful, and they motivated me to rewrite this chapter in less than an hour.
So, here's the chapter :)
Idhthrael woke up to a bucket of freezing, muddy water thrown in her face. Her hands were tied above her to a firm pole in the centre of the small camp, orcs standing around her in a circle, all of them leering, her toes barely reaching the ground.
The orc leader smiled at her, trailing a filthy finger down her cheek which made her recoil slightly in disgust as she spat at its looming figure. While she was frightened of what might happen, Idhthrael refused to show it, meeting her captor's eyes with fire in her own.
"You know, we don't need information from you," the orc whispered in her ear. "The elf prince will start looking soon enough."
"He's smarter than that," she spat back, though in her heart, that was what she feared. Legolas, who could barely hold a knife steady, might just decide to rush after her, and his blood would forever be on her hands.
Taking a knife from its belt, the orc raised it uncomfortably close to her eye, making her hard pressed not to flinch away. Any form of weakness would be manipulated by the creatures, that was what they excelled at. "What we need from you, little princess, is a scream."
Princess? she asked herself even as she replied, "you'll have to wait a very long time." Daechir must have told the orcs about her, of course he would have. Where was he anyways? She was quite inclined to give him lots of pain.
"Then we should start earlier," the orc's voice jerked her out of her musings.
A gasp tried to rise to her throat as the creature stabbed the knife into her midsection, but she bit her lip to stop it. They would get no sounds from her, she vowed, vision turning hazy while the orc twisted the blade, getting no satisfaction from her blank face. After several more twists without any outward reaction, the orc leader asked for a whip from another orc. Her lips were parted just a bit, now, as she tried to control her breathing, but still, no sound came out except her heavy breaths. She would not give them what they wanted. These little victories were what she could have, Idhthrael realised, when all else was lost.
And for now, as she saw the orc grow more frustrated, the smallest victories were enough.
"Let me go," he hissed angrily at Erthor who blocked his way to the armoury. Legolas could not afford any more delays, not when Idhthrael was out there being tortured by the orcs. Were they whipping her? Burning her? Or doing even worse to her? His own mind was haunted by his latest encounter with them, and he tried to push the elf out of the way.
"Legolas! When the King asked me to be your second he told me you were sometimes out of your mind, but he never warned me you would be this idiotic," Erthor very nearly shouted at his prince. In moments like this he was granted authority over the prince because Thranduil knew how self-sacrificing Legolas was. Technically, it should only be used in battles to override Legolas' suicidal commands, but this was suicidal enough. "You can't go marching off after some orcs when you can't even fight an elfling, much less an orc."
Pushing back against his second in command, Legolas' voice was quiet, dangerous. "There is no time. When the search party is organised, the sun will have set and then it will be postponed until the morning, and she'll likely be dead."
Even though Erthor could hear the almost imperceptible hollowness of those last few words in his friend's voice, he could not let him go. There would be more damage done if he did. "Your father himself prohibited you from going."
"It was not a direct order," Legolas defiantly said, still grappling against the other elf, but the corridor was a small one, and Erthor was unwavering.
"Then I'm giving you one. Your father gave me my position for a reason, Legolas," Erthor begged his friend to understand. "You know what your death would do your father, and right now, in your condition, you can't do anything to help her anyway."
Something crumpled inside Legolas. He stopped fighting, leaning instead on the wall for support. "And what am I supposed to do? By the time morning comes, they'll be too far gone."
"They took her for a reason, so she's going to be alive." At least, I hope so, Erthor thought, trying not to let the helplessness in Legolas' eyes affect his decision. If it were Almarea who had been taken, he knew that he would be raging like his friend did.
And of course, Legolas knew what he was thinking. "What if it were Almarea? Your love? Yes, they took her for a reason. They took her to get to me!" His voice cracked noticeably then, because the guilt came crashing down on him, and along with it, the helplessness of having an injured arm. He would not pity himself, though, while Idhthrael needed him, so he closed his eyes against the rush of overwhelming feelings. "I'm the best tracker here, you know that," Legolas whispered, knowing that his friend could hear him clearly. "Come with me, and I won't be alone."
"Legolas, you know I can't let you do that," Erthor said back. It hurt to see Legolas like this, but he was still healing. He would be of no use to her if he ran off only to die.
"Please, Erthor, I'm the best chance at finding her, and I can't let her die." Not before I tell her everything I need to. His eyes begged his friend in the dimming light. Night was falling, the realm was growing dangerous, yet he would face them if it meant she would be spared the torture of the orcs.
It was the desperation in Legolas' eyes which made him nod slowly. "I will arrange something, but you will not come."
"Erthor, who else if not me? Their trail will have grown cold by tomorrow morning, and I know the forest better than anyone," the prince pleaded.
"Us, we hope," came a voice from behind Erthor. Emerging from the shadows were Elladan and Elrohir, already carrying packs filled with provisions. "She's our sister, we were the ones who taught you how to track, and we would like to keep both of you safe."
Legolas clenched his fists as he watched the twins spur their horses to a gallop, aware of how closely Erthor stood next to him, in an attempt to make sure he didn't go back on his word. The King had made Legolas promise to stay, even when Legolas had begged to be allowed to go. While he knew that his father ordered him to stay out of love and fear of losing him, he also knew that if something happened to her, he would not be able to forgive himself. It would be a guilt he lived with his whole life, and yet as logic battled sentiment, he knew Erthor was right. He couldn't do anything to help her in his condition, he would be a liability to any search party sent out.
So Legolas stalked the corridors, his second in command silently following him, until he reached the doors he sought. Knocking at it, with the knowledge that the room's occupant must still be awake, Legolas waited.
The left door swung open to reveal Lord Elrond in a dressing gown and a book in hand. "Ah, Legolas. What can I do for you, ernil nin?" There was a glimmer in the elf lord's eyes which told the prince that he already knew what he wanted.
Thrusting his arm which he had pulled out of its sling towards Elrond, Legolas met his knowing gaze with an adamant one. "Whatever it takes. I'll be patient, I'll follow your orders, I'll do anything. Just, please, Lord Elrond, help me heal." Help me heal so I can somehow help her. The unspoken words hung in the air and the older elf nodded kindly.
"There is no need for titles, you know that, tithen pen."
For once, Legolas actually smiled at being called little, because it was a familiar thing in a world that was threatening to crumble around him. He looked back to see Erthor still standing guard, though an encouraging smile now graced his friend's stern features. The twins were out there trying to find her, and the faster he healed, the faster he could actually be of some use.
After all, he could not just stay behind to wallow in self pity. If he did nothing while she was dying, no matter what his rational mind said, he would live with guilt for the rest of his life.
And elves live forever.
Four days. That was how long it took for the orcs to drag her to the Old Fortress, the one people had now begun to call Dol Guldur, the Hill of Sorcery, because of what darkness lay enchanted within its ruins. Every step was an agony for Idhthrael, who was dragged forwards by the ropes binding her bleeding wrists. She had so far only been whipped, and then her wounds cauterised by a white hot knife so she wouldn't bleed to death, so the orcs could have more fun.
It irked her that she had been stupid enough to be taken in the first place. She might have been able to find an idea to escape the orcs, especially when they had not searched her thoroughly enough, but after hours of being beaten during that first night, she had barely any strength left to breathe.
Her feet tripped over the stone steps, sending some debris into the air as the orcs behind her pushed her on, whispering threats of what they would do to her later on. The words chilled Idhthrael even as they reached the top of the stairs. A seemingly empty platform of stone greeted her, and she was pushed forward, the back of her knees kicked so she would kneel.
She could not stop a hiss of pain slipping through her teeth as her already bruised kneecaps impacted the stone harshly. Her head was still head high, though, when it appeared.
Some sort of dark spectre surrounded by a reddish-orange glow, the malice radiating off of it making her jerk back instinctively. The orcs who stood around her looked scared of it, whatever it was. This was their master, the one who had assembled an army of hundreds of orcs.
Suddenly a voice resonated through the air, spoken in the Black Tongue, making her recoil even more against her will. Of all the Children of Iluvatar, it was elves who were most sensitive to evil, and now that evil teared at her mind with brutal force.
My slaves wanted to hear you scream, it spoke within her thoughts, and she hunched over as she fought to resist, fought the pain ripping, tearing, destroying her head. Suddenly Idhthrael knew who this creature was.
"I refuse to give in to you, Sauron," she hissed his named like it was poison, struggling to simply maintain consciousness, not noticing the gleeful smiles of the orcs around her.
You will scream soon, and you will only stop when you have become mine.
Another lash of pain tore through Idhthrael's mind, her body trembling from the assault. "I will never become yours," she panted through the haze settling around her vision.
Cold laughter boomed from the Shadow in front of her. It came closer, its presence making her nauseous as she fought to stay upright. Small victories, she reminded herself, though all she wanted was just rest. Some peace and a dreamless sleep.
You are weak. You stand no chance of fighting me. Again, fire burned through her mind, and this time, the pain of it made her fall forwards, her bound hands doing a clumsy job of preventing her from landing on her face.
Looking up at the dark figure with pure hatred in her eyes, she grinned at it, betraying none of the fear wrapping around her heart. "Perhaps," Idhthrael dared to say, "but I am smarter than you think."
Feedback welcome, but no flames please! :)