Authors notes: - I have survived my fist week at Uni. Sorry about the
slowness of the update. I have finished this story and hope to start a new
one after I have finished posting this one! Enjoy!
***
Awareness slowly crept back into the elf like grains of sand in an hourglass. First the pain, then the cold and then the incredible weakness. He was lying face down on cold stone; his blonde hair covered his face. Ropes bit into his wrists adding to the already agonising pain that his body was in. He moaned softly and moved his head sideways. The shooting pain caused spots to dance before his eyes. He moaned again. He was in a room; a hole was probably a better definition. The walls ran with water, which formed puddles at the base of each wall. It was dark an impenetrable darkness that seemed to suck the life from the person encased in it, not that Legolas felt that he had much life in him. He had never felt so weak it was as if someone had drained the very life from him. A burning pain in his hand caused him to remember what had happened. Taket was immortal and his blood had made it possible. The despair welled up inside him and he felt the familiar darkness well up as well. Instead of fighting it he let it come. He couldn't fight and didn't want to. He had failed and deserved only darkness.
* Caryarn reined in his horse and looked at the castle that held his friend captive. He had to restrain himself from running in there to find him. Elinar had gone further up the trail to scout out sentry parties. He knew they had to wait for the warriors and plan their attack. Many dark forces lived in the depths of the castle and would fight viciously before giving up their home but waiting was so hard and he prayed that his friend was safe. How unfair would it be for Legolas to have survived the arduous and hellish journey to destroy the ring of power only then to be killed within Mirkwood's own borders? A low whistle alerted him to Elinar's return.
"I can see movement within the castle. Orcs most likely. The grounds seem to be deserted but we both know Taket and things are not always what they seem when it comes to him." Elinar reported. "I have found a good vantage point to monitor activity during the night which can aid us later on." The two elves moved up the trail and released their horses. From there they watched keenly all activity within the castle and as darkness fell the grounds.
* "How are they?" Miran asked watching the healers work. The hobbits were stood in the corner watching avidly everything that was going on.
"Fine. In fact they are waking." The healer informed them. True to his words Gandalf began moving and he slowly opened his eyes. Miran moved closer to his bed.
"How do you feel?" he asked.
"Like an old old man." Gandalf replied wearily. He glanced around at the other beds whose occupants were beginning to awaken. "How are they?"
"You all suffered blows to the head but you will be perfectly fine." The healer said.
"Legolas?" the wizard asked.
"He was taken." Miran said sadly. "Brusal is gathering warriors together as we speak. Elinar and Caryarn have already set out."
Gandalf closed his eyes. "Then Taket is immortal."
Miran nodded deeply grieved by his brother's capture.
"How do you know?" Aragorn questioned awake but not fully alert.
Miran answered for Gandalf.
"Taket would have performed the spell immediately."
"Of that there is no doubt. This then brings about new problems. Taket will undoubtedly wish to attack Mirkwood. How soon he can do that needs to be determined and Prince Legolas's location needs to be found and him to be rescued if he is in fact still alive." Gandalf said ignoring the gasps from Miran and the hobbits.
"Of course he is still alive." Gimli declared.
"I to wish to believe that master dwarf but once the spell has been performed there is little need for the prince. One of two things would have happened. He was either killed by the spell or immediately after its completion or he was given to the orcs as a prize. I sincerely hope it is the former for the latter is to horrible to even contemplate."
"I refuse to believe my friend is dead and we should banish all thought of his demise and set out to rescue that crazy elf and give him a piece of my mind about the uproar he has created." The dwarf said resolutely. Aragorn had to smile. He agreed with Gimli. The thought of his friend being killed by Taket was too hard to even think about.
*
Liran woke. The elf had given up the fight and had given him full control of his body. +Well not given+ he thought with a smile +but the creature was too tired to fight anymore+
"It has been fun my friend" he whispered and smiled again as the elf retreated further into the depths of despair.
Liran sat up ignoring the pain and set about untying the ropes around his wrist. They fell to the ground allowing blood to rush back into the numb hands. How exquisite the pain was. How he had longed to feel something anything again. He then set about weaving a spell that would mask his pains, the wounds and allow him to completely control this body. Black swirled around him it burrowed under his skin. He watched as the wounds in his wrist sealed leaving again perfect ivory skin. His hair went from blonde to a black deeper than the depths of Moria. The darkness swirled within him and again he felt powerful. Taket would suffer oh how he would suffer.
The spell complete Liran stood and walked over to the stone door. Placing his hand on the cool stone of the door he listened. Two orcs stood outside guarding the elf. The stone shattered into thousands of small pieces and killed the two orcs instantly.
"Surprise" he said as he walked past. Burning torches dimly lighted the tunnel. Rats scuttled about climbing over rotted corpses. Liran wrinkled his nose in disgust. Two more orcs appeared before him. They halted startled by the up and about walking elf. It was the elf they had tortured the night before but its appearance had changed. What was it doing walking about? Taket should know. Before they could finish their line of though they were dead+ Orcs pathetic creatures+ Liran thought +but excellent at torture+ He continued through the tunnel. He wondered how long it would take Taket to work out that his prize elf had escaped. Banishing thoughts of Taket from his mind he concentrated on getting out and back to his troops that were waiting for his return. The tunnels were a confusing maze but he knew the way out. A secret tunnel that orcs used to get in and out without their master's permission. He found it quickly killing several more orcs in the process. He crouched by the exit and watched the hills. Elves. There were two on the ridge watching the castle. Looking for Legolas. He got up and walked away from them and into the forest. He would face them soon and then they could see what their friend had become.
* Thranduil sighed and took another sip of his wine as he listened to the lords and warrior captains argue about the best course of action to the situation. The warriors wanted to stop being so isolated and seek help from the other elven realms. They had been in war parties that were well - travelled and knew many warriors in other realms. The lords wanted to sort out their own troubles by themselves. They were stubborn and things were not getting anywhere. A knocking on the door announced the presence of Brusal. The oldest child of Thranduil looked very upset.
"They have struck again. Mithrandir, Gimli and Aragorn were attacked. Legolas was taken." Thranduil roared in fury and smashed the goblet spilling wine over the table. The room was silent.
"I want the warriors ready to march now. We are going to take down Taket." Thranduil snapped. "Take me to those three who were injured" Brusal quickly led the king to the injured three. He walked into the room to find the three out of bed and dressed.
"What is going on?" he demanded.
"We are going after Legolas!" Gimli announced. Thranduil laughed. "And what will a mere dwarf do against the dark forces of Taket."
Aragorn stopped Gimli from angrily returning an insult of his own.
"We will join the warriors heading to Taket's castle." He stated his eyes daring the elven king to challenge him.
"Very well you will join Alale the captain of the guards and Miran but do not slow them down." He said pointedly looking at the dwarf and hobbits.
***
Awareness slowly crept back into the elf like grains of sand in an hourglass. First the pain, then the cold and then the incredible weakness. He was lying face down on cold stone; his blonde hair covered his face. Ropes bit into his wrists adding to the already agonising pain that his body was in. He moaned softly and moved his head sideways. The shooting pain caused spots to dance before his eyes. He moaned again. He was in a room; a hole was probably a better definition. The walls ran with water, which formed puddles at the base of each wall. It was dark an impenetrable darkness that seemed to suck the life from the person encased in it, not that Legolas felt that he had much life in him. He had never felt so weak it was as if someone had drained the very life from him. A burning pain in his hand caused him to remember what had happened. Taket was immortal and his blood had made it possible. The despair welled up inside him and he felt the familiar darkness well up as well. Instead of fighting it he let it come. He couldn't fight and didn't want to. He had failed and deserved only darkness.
* Caryarn reined in his horse and looked at the castle that held his friend captive. He had to restrain himself from running in there to find him. Elinar had gone further up the trail to scout out sentry parties. He knew they had to wait for the warriors and plan their attack. Many dark forces lived in the depths of the castle and would fight viciously before giving up their home but waiting was so hard and he prayed that his friend was safe. How unfair would it be for Legolas to have survived the arduous and hellish journey to destroy the ring of power only then to be killed within Mirkwood's own borders? A low whistle alerted him to Elinar's return.
"I can see movement within the castle. Orcs most likely. The grounds seem to be deserted but we both know Taket and things are not always what they seem when it comes to him." Elinar reported. "I have found a good vantage point to monitor activity during the night which can aid us later on." The two elves moved up the trail and released their horses. From there they watched keenly all activity within the castle and as darkness fell the grounds.
* "How are they?" Miran asked watching the healers work. The hobbits were stood in the corner watching avidly everything that was going on.
"Fine. In fact they are waking." The healer informed them. True to his words Gandalf began moving and he slowly opened his eyes. Miran moved closer to his bed.
"How do you feel?" he asked.
"Like an old old man." Gandalf replied wearily. He glanced around at the other beds whose occupants were beginning to awaken. "How are they?"
"You all suffered blows to the head but you will be perfectly fine." The healer said.
"Legolas?" the wizard asked.
"He was taken." Miran said sadly. "Brusal is gathering warriors together as we speak. Elinar and Caryarn have already set out."
Gandalf closed his eyes. "Then Taket is immortal."
Miran nodded deeply grieved by his brother's capture.
"How do you know?" Aragorn questioned awake but not fully alert.
Miran answered for Gandalf.
"Taket would have performed the spell immediately."
"Of that there is no doubt. This then brings about new problems. Taket will undoubtedly wish to attack Mirkwood. How soon he can do that needs to be determined and Prince Legolas's location needs to be found and him to be rescued if he is in fact still alive." Gandalf said ignoring the gasps from Miran and the hobbits.
"Of course he is still alive." Gimli declared.
"I to wish to believe that master dwarf but once the spell has been performed there is little need for the prince. One of two things would have happened. He was either killed by the spell or immediately after its completion or he was given to the orcs as a prize. I sincerely hope it is the former for the latter is to horrible to even contemplate."
"I refuse to believe my friend is dead and we should banish all thought of his demise and set out to rescue that crazy elf and give him a piece of my mind about the uproar he has created." The dwarf said resolutely. Aragorn had to smile. He agreed with Gimli. The thought of his friend being killed by Taket was too hard to even think about.
*
Liran woke. The elf had given up the fight and had given him full control of his body. +Well not given+ he thought with a smile +but the creature was too tired to fight anymore+
"It has been fun my friend" he whispered and smiled again as the elf retreated further into the depths of despair.
Liran sat up ignoring the pain and set about untying the ropes around his wrist. They fell to the ground allowing blood to rush back into the numb hands. How exquisite the pain was. How he had longed to feel something anything again. He then set about weaving a spell that would mask his pains, the wounds and allow him to completely control this body. Black swirled around him it burrowed under his skin. He watched as the wounds in his wrist sealed leaving again perfect ivory skin. His hair went from blonde to a black deeper than the depths of Moria. The darkness swirled within him and again he felt powerful. Taket would suffer oh how he would suffer.
The spell complete Liran stood and walked over to the stone door. Placing his hand on the cool stone of the door he listened. Two orcs stood outside guarding the elf. The stone shattered into thousands of small pieces and killed the two orcs instantly.
"Surprise" he said as he walked past. Burning torches dimly lighted the tunnel. Rats scuttled about climbing over rotted corpses. Liran wrinkled his nose in disgust. Two more orcs appeared before him. They halted startled by the up and about walking elf. It was the elf they had tortured the night before but its appearance had changed. What was it doing walking about? Taket should know. Before they could finish their line of though they were dead+ Orcs pathetic creatures+ Liran thought +but excellent at torture+ He continued through the tunnel. He wondered how long it would take Taket to work out that his prize elf had escaped. Banishing thoughts of Taket from his mind he concentrated on getting out and back to his troops that were waiting for his return. The tunnels were a confusing maze but he knew the way out. A secret tunnel that orcs used to get in and out without their master's permission. He found it quickly killing several more orcs in the process. He crouched by the exit and watched the hills. Elves. There were two on the ridge watching the castle. Looking for Legolas. He got up and walked away from them and into the forest. He would face them soon and then they could see what their friend had become.
* Thranduil sighed and took another sip of his wine as he listened to the lords and warrior captains argue about the best course of action to the situation. The warriors wanted to stop being so isolated and seek help from the other elven realms. They had been in war parties that were well - travelled and knew many warriors in other realms. The lords wanted to sort out their own troubles by themselves. They were stubborn and things were not getting anywhere. A knocking on the door announced the presence of Brusal. The oldest child of Thranduil looked very upset.
"They have struck again. Mithrandir, Gimli and Aragorn were attacked. Legolas was taken." Thranduil roared in fury and smashed the goblet spilling wine over the table. The room was silent.
"I want the warriors ready to march now. We are going to take down Taket." Thranduil snapped. "Take me to those three who were injured" Brusal quickly led the king to the injured three. He walked into the room to find the three out of bed and dressed.
"What is going on?" he demanded.
"We are going after Legolas!" Gimli announced. Thranduil laughed. "And what will a mere dwarf do against the dark forces of Taket."
Aragorn stopped Gimli from angrily returning an insult of his own.
"We will join the warriors heading to Taket's castle." He stated his eyes daring the elven king to challenge him.
"Very well you will join Alale the captain of the guards and Miran but do not slow them down." He said pointedly looking at the dwarf and hobbits.