Thanks to DaHybridQueen and ShadowedRainbow for the reviews for the last chapter.

ILV -Calm down and breathe!

I'm glad you like the twins so much. I'm enjoying writing them so much I may do a story revolving around them can't replace Leggy in my heart tho'. ;)

Keep that coffee coming, you make it so well. :)

As usual thanks to everyone who is reading and please. Let me know what you think.

Chapter 34

Legolas is in trouble.

The orcs he has been tracking have turned the tables and now appear to be tracking him. He has managed to bind his ankle with strips torn from the bottom of his tunic and using two of his precious arrows as splints to keep it steady but the pain and swelling are increasing with every movement he makes and he knows it is only a matter of time before he is overrun. Taking to the canopy is no longer an option, both because of his injury and because of the nature of the trees, he is desperate to find shelter, or at least, somewhere he can gain an advantage over the pursuing beasts but he has never come this far south before and does not know the terrain.

Pausing briefly to catch his breath and listen, he can hear the heavy tread of many feet trampling the undergrowth, but strangely they sound no closer than the last time he stopped. He wonders momentarily why they have not caught up with him yet but pushes the thought aside, orcs are stupid creatures that spend almost as much time fighting amongst themselves as against their enemies so he figures this must be what is holding them up. Whatever the reason, the archer is happy to trust to his luck and remain ahead for as long as possible, hoping that by doing so, they will thin themselves out enough to give him a fighting chance.

Hearing the noise of pursuit veer round to his right he decides, reluctantly, to move off again and alters his course slightly to keep the orcs behind him as he hobbles away as fast as he is able.

As the two older men had earlier outlined their scheme to Estel his heart screamed out against it and he had had to fight hard to keep from killing them there and then. The way they so casually spoke of how a band of orcs were, at that moment, hunting the friend he thought safe in Imladris, in order to capture and hold him at the rendezvous until they arrived was bad enough. Yet worse was the knowledge that once relinquished to the mens keeping, Legolas was to be taken to the dark fortress of Dol Guldur and handed over to this unnamed master of theirs, for reasons they had not questioned. All they knew was they were to be paid in gold coin once the elf was delivered, as long as he was alive. What his fate was to be after that did not concern them at all and Estel had found it almost impossible to keep the loathing from his face at their indifference.

Now they are once more on the move, he lets his mind wander over the various possibilities open to him, whilst keeping a tight rein on his expression to ensure his emotions are not revealed. Draeg, it seems, has taken to watching him carefully and the young man knows he can afford to take no chances until an opportune moment but that will not be until after they have reached their destination.

Moving through the forest in single file between the two, his feet finding their way automatically, Estel rejects scenario after scenario, trying to come up with the perfect way to bring this collaboration to a satisfactory conclusion. In his heart though, he knows it to be a futile exercise, he has no way of knowing for sure how this will pan out, and feels he will have trust to instinct when the time comes. The one thing he is certain of however, is that he will gladly give his life, if necessary, to ensure the evil plan fails and Legolas is safe.

The young elf at the centre of Estels thoughts is beginning to feel like a mouse being played with by a cat. He is certain the orcs keep changing direction, yet they get no closer. It almost feels like he is being herded towards some predetermined destination but he has never known the fell beasts be so organised before. Shaking his head to try to clear it he thinks he must be more in need of rest than he realises, for him to start ascribing strategic planning to orcs is almost laughable and as the thought crosses his mind he very nearly giggles out loud, showing just how fraught his nerves have become.

It is at this point that his luck runs out completely. Moving through the trees, entirely focused on the sounds of the orcs behind him, he fails to notice the tell tale clicking and hissing ahead, until it is too late. Limping between two tall alders he is suddenly brought to a standstill as he feels something clutch at his tunic. Turning his head he expects to find the cloth snagged on a wayward branch but before he has a chance to see what has happened feels another pull on the opposite side. His eyes widen then as the sounds previously missed penetrate into his brain and he realises it is no branch that has him held just as a wet, sticky mass hits him right in the centre of the chest.

"Spiders!" he berates himself silently, how could he have been so stupid as to miss the signs, he reaches back to unsheathe a knife but it is too late. Three giant arachnids have quickly scurried down from the tree tops and he feels the sharp bite of a sting in the back of his neck as the one behind lays claim to him first.

The three men have reached a small clearing and Draeg decides it is time for a short rest. but Estel is eager to continue now he knows just what is at stake.

"Why stop now? " he asks the older man "Should we not try to get there as soon as possible to ensure his safety?" he inwardly flinches at the sharp look directed his way and quickly tries to cover himself by adding, "I'm sure this boss of yours won't want damaged goods." Then shrugging off his pack Estel looks around, "I don't like this forest either , it feels like we are being watched," he shivers theatrically in an effort to convince the others to move on.

"Nah" Draeg throws himself onto the ground "We've got plenty of time yet" he grins sadistically "we know he'll be kept safe and sound for us" he winked "Well, maybe not sound." He chuckles as he passes Flinn an apple from his opened pack. "Boss won't mind if they have a little fun first," he throws another apple to Estel. "Help make 'im a bit easier for us ta manage too," He looks pointedly at the young man,"Can't change yer mind now you know."

"No," Estel quickly replies "I won't do that, its just this forest" he pauses to look around, playing the part of the nervous villager "It gives me the creeps. I've heard tales of evil things that hide in the trees, ready to carry you off."

"Nothing to be worried about if you stick wiv us lad" Flinn says as he takes another bite of apple "Ain't that right Draeg?" he grins at his companion.

"Nothing lurking 'ere 'cepting us" the older man laughs and claps Estel on the back. "'Tis just nerves me lad" he smiles "Nothings gonna happen if you stick with us like he says" he gestures towards Flinn who is lying on the ground now head resting on his pack. "Get some rest, we've got a way to go yet." He leans back against a small rock and rubs his apple on the sleeve of his ragged jacket. The young man gives in and eases himself to the ground. He may sit but he knows he won't rest, not until they reach the rendezvous and he can begin to set things right.

The forest is rapidly fading from his sight and Legolas feels his legs begin to sag as the spider venom works its way around his body. Hanging, suspended by sticky strands of web, trying to force his mind to stay alert, he listens as the spiders chatter to each other in their chilling clicks and hisses but can not hold back the darkness that is beginning to envelop him and eventually, succumbing to its embrace, looses the fight and sinks into its willing arms, thus fails to hear the tell tale crashing of heavy feet getting nearer and nearer.