Disclaimer: I own nothing Tolkien created.

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Sold Into Ruin

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Chapter 51 ~ Kill or be Killed

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Taking the blows the guard rained down was beginning to tire Legolas out. It was a solid strategy but one that was hard to maintain for any length of time, especially in these conditions. However, it seemed to entertain the spectators, which kept the guard happy and repeating his actions, allowing Legolas to judge what was coming next. Legolas needed him to stay simple and not change his moves. Predictability was a massive advantage in combat.

The Elf knew how to beat the man; he had done it before even though under different circumstances. His quick moves could easily out-manoeuvre any guard if and when he decided to use them.

The guard was circling Legolas again, a smug grin on his face, believing he had the upper hand. Legolas knew better though. Patience was the key.

Aragorn was watching anxiously. It worried him to see Legolas out there with so many people against him. Although he knew how to fight this was different. He had so many people willing him to lose, any one of whom could make his life very difficult if this went the wrong way. They had been in bad situations before but Legolas had been through so much recently and although he tried to hide it Aragorn knew he had suffered both physically and emotionally.

The man struck out once again and missed. He was getting increasingly annoyed at Legolas' lack of action. There was an ugly, angry look on his face that Legolas tried to keep there. He didn't want to kill the man, no matter what he had done; a life was a life but he knew he might not have any choice. It was kill or be killed. A horrible thought but he was a reality that couldn't be avoided.

Finally, the guard got impatient again and shouted something at Legolas. It didn't make any sense to the Elf but the other guards seemed to like it. And it was just what Legolas wanted. He smiled gently. It was nearly time to make his move. Being a skilled warrior he knew exactly how he was going to take the man down. He glanced over at Aragorn who was still comforting Jasmine. The man gave him a reassuring smile, experience suggesting that Legolas was getting bored of this fight and was about to make his move.

"You're going down, Elf," the guard snarled.

Legolas nodded. The guard charged again but this time Legolas didn't move. Standing firm, the Elf hit the man straight in the face, much like he had done at the Handy Tavern. At the same time he kicked the guard's legs out from under him. He fell flat on his back, the wind knocked out of him with such force that he was too stunned to move, just as Legolas had planned. Placing his foot on the guard's chest so he couldn't move, Legolas looked over to Kallon who had been watching the whole thing intently. Now the whole place was silent; everyone waiting for the verdict from Kallon.

"Finish it," Kallon ordered, throwing a knife into the ring so it fell next to Legolas.

Legolas looked down at the man on the ground. The mad light had faded from his eyes and he was now looking fearfully up at the Elf. He knew he had lost. Beaten yet again by the superior Elf, only this time he wouldn't get a second chance.

Bending down, Legolas picked up the knife. He looked at it for a moment before moving his gaze over to Aragorn and Jasmine, who were watching him curiously to see what he was going to do next.

Aragorn nodded. "Do it. You have no other choice," Aragorn said quietly, knowing Legolas could hear him. Legolas didn't want to do it, lower himself to killing another person. It was beneath him. Taking a life was never an easy thing to do, especially for an Elf who valued it above all else.

"Kill him. You won. End it," Kallon said.

Legolas looked down into brown, scared eyes again and no longer saw the evil, mindless figure of a member of his team of captors but a real person. Frightened and very real. It was an unexpected feeling and made him suddenly feel very sympathetic for the man. Thoughtfully, he dropped the knife to the ground and, after removing his foot from the man's chest, kicked it back towards Kallon.

There was a gasp from the audience as he stepped back, staring at Kallon with such venom that it caused the man to shiver.

"No."

A simple answer but one that had a huge impact on Kallon. No longer looking so pleased, he stepped towards the ring. Everyone was completely silent now. Even the guards had shut up. The man on the ground stayed down but crawled towards Kallon as though he might protect him from Legolas. Sidestepping the guard Kallon came up to Legolas, who stood firm. He knew this was just intimidation and it wouldn't work on him again.

"Kill him, Legolas. That's the rules. Kill him or I'll kill you. Right here, right in front of your friends," Kallon said, pointing with a dagger to Aragorn and Jasmine, who were watching in outright horror. Aragorn knew Legolas wouldn't kill the man in cold blood, not for the entertainment of others and he also knew that was exactly what Kallon wanted him to do.

"I will not kill a man just for your sick pleasure," Legolas replied firmly.

Kallon stepped so close their noses were almost touching. "Kill him." The dagger was now at Legolas' stomach, the point digging in slightly in warning. Legolas shook his head. He would not quail in front of this man. This was his chance to show Kallon and the other guards that they couldn't scare him. "Why do you insist on disobeying me? What are you trying to prove? That you can get yourself killed by angering me?"

"I want to prove that you are nothing more than a bully and a coward and I will not be intimidated by you. I have faced worse enemies than you, Kallon." Legolas' eyes bore into Kallon's and again the man had to fight to keep from looking away. A small victory for Legolas but a victory nonetheless.

"And I have faced worse prisoners. I always get what I want and I will break you like every other slave in this miserable place. You, my friend, are no different from them in the end. Anyone can be tamed, even you. It'll just take a little more time." Kallon stared at Legolas. "Now, pick up the knife and end it." Legolas shook his head once again.

Whilst Legolas and Kallon had been arguing and everyone's attention was fixed upon them the guard had crawled his way to the edge of the ring. When he reached the roped edge, his hand touched the knife that had been discarded by Legolas. He looked down at the weapon in surprise then picked it up, immediately feeling the power it gave him. The Elf had won the fight but in the end the guard knew he could defeat him. He slowly pulled his aching body up from the ground.

He went unnoticed by the crowd, who were still entranced by the war of words still going on between Kallon and Legolas.

"Pick up the knife and end this. Now." Kallon pressed the knife closer to Legolas but the Elf remained unfazed. Threats were not going to work this time. Now was the right moment to make a stand – where everyone could see it. Just like the Master wanted.

Aragorn was watching Legolas with growing unease. He had never seen anyone properly stand up to Kallon before so he had no idea of what might happen. Jasmine had pulled away from Aragorn and was watching the exchange with interest, frightening though it was. Arron stayed close to the woman. However, newfound concern for Legolas forced him to see what was happening although he didn't want to look.

The guard was slowly edging closer to Legolas without either his or Kallon's knowledge.

"Why do you continue to disobey me? Life would be so much easier for you if you just did as you were told."

"Life? Your only purpose here is to take life away," Legolas shot back.

"What?" Kallon said, his voice low and angry.

"You heard…"

At this moment something crashed into Legolas, sending him falling off to one side. Kallon only had a second to get out of the way before he fell with Legolas. The crowd gasped when they saw what was happening. It took Legolas a little longer though. Once the stars had stopped blurring his vision he looked up and saw the guard he had just been fighting. The next thing he saw was the glint of the knife in the guard's hand.

As soon as Aragorn saw what was happening he dashed towards Legolas. Kallon though managed to stop him just in time. He had no intention of letting anyone interfere with the Game.

Legolas finally managed to get his bearings and struggled to his feet. Only half a second behind him was the guard with the knife still in his hand. The guard came at him as soon as he was on his feet and Legolas had to dart out of the way of the blade.

Kallon watched with interest as the two competitors circled each other warily. He had made sure that two guards were holding Aragorn at bay, although the man was making a great effort to get free and help his friend.

He needn't have worried though. Legolas was doing fine on his own. He had the guard in his sights and as soon as he saw a weakness he pounced. He grabbed the man's arm, twisting it violently so he had no choice but the drop the knife. It fell, clattering to the ground. Legolas kicked it out of the way so the guard couldn't get at it again.

In a second the man was back on the ground. This time though he struggled. Legolas held him firm so he couldn't escape.

Two guards from the audience ran into the ring but Kallon immediately stopped them. "No. Don't touch them. Finish him, Legolas. Do it now or he will kill you." Kallon entered the ring again and walked slowly towards the knife. He kicked it so it came to a stop at Legolas' feet but out of reach other the guard.

"Do it, you coward," the guard growled from beneath him.

Legolas looked down at him again, all his anger gone. All he saw was the weak and pathetic man, not a killer.

"You see, men. Every being has a weakness, even the Immortals. He's just like a Man. He can be overcome. Nothing to be afraid of really, are you?" Kallon's voice was quiet now but everyone could hear it. It was, of course, primarily aimed at Legolas.

The Elf's attention was fixed entirely upon Aragorn though. He was staring deep into the man's clear grey eyes. There was an equally important silent discussion going on between the two friends. In Aragorn's eyes, Legolas saw what he needed to do. With a slight nod of his head Legolas took a deep, calming breath.

"Elves, just like the rest of you, are weak. They…"

Before Kallon could even finish his sentence Legolas had released the guard, pulled him up with one hand whilst grabbing the knife with the other. In one swift motion he drew the blade across the man's neck, cutting off his air supply as blood gushed from the wound. He was dead before he even hit the ground.

Kallon had stopped his rant and was now staring at the body in surprise. He looked up at Legolas who was standing perfectly still, the knife still clasped in his hand. The whole place was completely silent. The tension was broken only when Kallon began clapping, the harsh cracks seeming to split the night air. Although slightly confused, the other guards soon joined in, faithfully following their leader even though it felt like they were betraying their fallen comrade.

Legolas looked to where Aragorn was now standing freely. Somehow he had managed to wriggle out of the grip of the two guards who were so shocked that they just allowed it and stood gaping at the Elf. His blue eyes were slightly glazed, Aragorn noticed. He dropped the bloodied knife to the ground. When he did this, his eyes darted from Aragorn over to Kallon. They were no longer misty but filled with anger.

The man was laughing and encouraging his guards to cheer. Legolas, so quickly people didn't even notice, picked up the knife and threw it at the man. It landed point down in the ground millimetres from impaling his foot. Kallon froze mid-clap when the knife came so close to him that the blade actually touched his boot. Slowly, the clapping subsided when people realised what happened.

For long moments, the two of them just stared at each other, both with the same look of hatred and anger. Aragorn and the rest of the crowd merely looked on as they stared unblinkingly at each other.

Kallon was the first to move. He slowly stepped towards Legolas, sidestepping the knife in the ground.

"Finally. It took you long enough," he said. At this Aragorn could feel Legolas bristling with anger and wondered whether he should intervene. He had no idea what was going to happen but he knew it wasn't something he wanted to be involved in. He stepped away from the guards and walked out of the ring to Jasmine and Arron, who were clinging to each other and watching the stand-off nervously.

Kallon and Legolas were still stood face to face, their noses almost touching. They just stared at each other, neither making a move.

Finally, Kallon broke the tense silence with a grin. "We need a new contender."

To Be Continued…

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