Chapter 34
Aragorn immediately lifted his head and stared into two bright green eyes. Oh no, not again. His eyes involuntarily shifted to Legolas and concern spread in his heart, but the handsome prince had already put on his usual mask of indifference. Nothing suggested what he really felt.
"Little prince, you can come with me!" Eero smiled exaggeratedly friendly and a cold shiver of fear ran down the back of the human. What was this dark being up to? The archer let out an annoyed sigh.
"What does 'can' mean here? I don't have any other choice, do I?" The dark-haired elf pretended to think. The Ranger's heart filled with worry and fear.
"If you don't want me to take one of your friends here, then no." Everything in Aragorn contracted. No. What was he up to? The man would do anything to save his friend, but he knew there was nothing he could do. Legolas would never allow any of the others to be harmed. The handsome warrior was too loyal for that. At that moment two orcs came into the cell and brutally tore the elf to its feet. The blond elf's face twisted for a moment and at that moment Aragorn realized that he still had to be in pain from his injury. Damn it!
"Please don't hurt him!", the ranger suddenly said and Eero turned to him. His grin was amused.
"Do you think your supplication is stopping me, human?" The ranger stared up at the dark elf. How could he be so cruel?
"Leave him alone!", Legolas said now in a firm voice and tried to shake off the disgusting hands of the orcs, but he gave up quickly. Deep blue eyes met poison green.
"Take him away. And be careful not to let him escape." Fear and panic spread in Aragorn. He could only hope that they wouldn't hurt his friend too badly. This gave the man a reassuring smile before both he and Eero disappeared from the cell. With a desperate sigh, the man sank back against the wall.
"What ... what's going to happen to him now?", Frodo asked in a slightly shaky voice. Aragorn knew it, but he also knew that even without knowing that Legolas would have to endure pain, the hobbits were already scared enough.
"I don't know," he whispered softly, getting a pitying look from Boromir. However, Gimli was not so reserved.
"You know that very well, Aragorn. I don't want to know what condition they'll bring him back in." That couldn't be true now. The little creatures' eyes were wide with fear and shock because they too knew what that meant.
"Gimli! That really doesn't help to calm down!", the ranger replied angrily and reproachfully. But the dwarf only glared at him too.
"They'll see it soon anyway. We should prepare them for it." Aragorn shook his head angrily. What was the point now in frightening the hobbits? Sure, he was afraid of the picture that maybe Legolas would come back, but now was waiting.
"Where's the ring, little prince?", his disgustingly soft voice asked again, but like the previous times, the prince only shrugged his shoulders, although this little movement sent a violent, burning pain through his back.
"I don't know." Legolas had no idea how long he had been in the small, dark room. The only thing he noticed was the pain on his back, which burned like fire. But not a sound had left the elf's lips. He was too proud to give satisfaction to these miserable beings. The whip touched his back one more time, as before, the archer gritted his teeth to prevent wincing. Sweat glistened on his skin and it was impossible to move even a little. An angry growl came from Eero. He was visibly frustrated and angry not to get anything out of the handsome warrior. And that gave Legolas a little bit of strength.
"We'll still talk. Take him back." With these words, the blonde elf was pulled up, sending a violent pain through his entire body and he had to suppress a cry of pain. Then he was dragged out of the room.
