Yes, I know this is a short chapter. I have no idea where this story is going. I'll try to update next week- but I'm not promising anything.

Legolas pulled with all his might trying to slide the iron cuffs off of his wrist. He clenched his teeth together as his hands began to bleed. Gasping, he gave up and slid the ring back on.

He was sitting on a damp floor of a cave deep in the mountains. Once they had reached the cave, he had immediately been chained. The chains were held fast to the floor by a huge stake, something that had apparently been prepared ahead of time.

His stomach growled, reminding him that it had not been fed for the past few days. But Legolas did not need his stomach's reminders to know he was growing thin and frail. His clothes felt baggier on him, and once in a while his strength would leave him completely.

Tired, Legolas leaned his head back and let it rest on the wall of the cave. All he knew was that he was somewhere in the Misty Mountains being held by Lord Falien; for what purpose he did not know. His first thought was that Falien desired the throne of Rivendell, but then why would Falien use him?

Legolas heaved a great sigh as he thought of Elsa. He hoped she wasn't too worried about him. He sighed again. How he missed her! Her smile, her laugh, her-

*Imbecile!*

Legolas turned his head slightly as Falien's enraged voice echoed clearly throughout the cavern. Legolas closed his eyes, hoping that if Falien came this way, Legolas would give the impression that he was sleeping, but his ears strained to hear the conversation. He was not disappointed.

*Your foolishness has only served as a warning to Celsius.*

Celsius? Elsa!

*I'm sorry, my lord. I thought you wished her dead.*

*I do, you idiot! But one cannot simply kill the Lady of Fire. Not with certain…possessions she carries. Why do you think I've gone though all this trouble to lure her all the way out here?*

*I thought-*

*You thought what? That you could somehow become more powerful than she and shoot her with an arrow?!*

Legolas' heart was beating so furiously now that he was sure Falien could hear it in the silence. The quiet made him tense as he waited impatiently for the conversation to continue. But it did not continue. The elf who Legolas recognized as Nutortho came from his left, obviously subdued by Falien's terrible rage.

Legolas gathered his courage to speak with the elf. "What is to become of me?"

Nutortho raised his brows, obviously shocked at having been noticed, by the prisoner no less. His surprise was quickly covered with annoyance as he answered with a snarl, "I don't know! But if you don't stop flapping your lip I'll pull your toenails off!"

Legolas was not intimidated in the least by the empty threat. He persisted, "What are your plans for the red-haired elf?"

"You'll just have to wait and find out, won't you?"

Legolas wanted badly to get on the elf's good side. He might be able to help him. Legolas then saw the tiny beads of sweat forming on Nutortho's forehead and tried again to make conversation. "Are you warm?"

Nutortho only grunted and wiped his brow with the back of his hand. But as he did so, Legolas saw something.

A small red mark was on his upper palm. It almost looked like a…singe of some sort.

"Were you burned?"

"What? Oh." Nutortho brought his hand down and looked at his palm. "That is nothing."

Legolas watched as Nutortho left the room. He didn't believe that Nutortho had purposely lied to him (he wasn't smart enough for that), rather he just didn't care about whatever had happened.

Legolas shifted and brought his knees up to his chest, resting his elbows at the top of them. He was growing worried all over again. They wanted to kill Elsa. But why? He closed his eyes, trying to think.

Unexplainably, a scene came to his mind.

"Elsa!" Legolas hurried to her side. "What happened?"

One silent tear rolled down her cheek. "I don't know," she answered quietly, sounding like her mind was not even there.

"Come on," Legolas said gently, trying to lift her to her feet. "What happened?"

Elsa looked up into Legolas' face, her eyes looked empty to him. "I was only walking, when someone jumped out at me. He tried to take my necklace, but then suddenly ran away."

"Are you sure?" Her story was not making any sense to Legolas; he thought she was just a bit shook up from whatever had happened. He took her arm to lead her away, but then feeling the blood on his fingers, he turned her arm over to inspect it more closely. "You're bleeding."

Elsa looked down. "I am?" she blinked.

Legolas looked around before ripping some plants from their place in the earth. He crushed them with his hand and then sprinkled the powder over Elsa's arm.


"What is it?"

Legolas didn't answer. He tore off a part of his shirt and wrapped it tightly around Elsa's arm. He then began leading her along the path. "I would like you to stay with Arwen tonight."

"It is not time to retire."

"I know that. When it is time to retire, I want you to stay with her."

"Why?

"I'm only concerned for your well-being."

"You don't believe me, do you?"

"I think you're just frightened and that may have mixed you up a little bit," Legolas replied, choosing his words delicately.

"It happened as I said," Elsa persisted.

"It does not matter," Legolas said trying to get her out of her defensive state. "I am only worried that something may happen and I think it best that you stay with Arwen for a bit. Unless you're going to make me sleep outside your door. I would hate to do such a thing. The floor is most uncomfortable."

"Legolas?"

"Hmm?"

"Did I ever tell you about my necklace?"

"No," Legolas said. "I wasn't aware you had one."

"I do. See? My parents said that I've had it ever since a baby and they never tried to take it from me. I remember…I wore it every day."

"Oh, really?" Legolas asked politely, wanting desperately for her to snap out of whatever phase she was in.

"Yes. It can't be worth much…I wonder why that man wanted it…He burned his hand on something."

"Elsa, there is nothing to burn his hand on."

"I know…but he did. It was all red, and he screamed…"

Legolas' eyes flew open. "It really did happen!" Legolas said to himself. "And I made her feel like a fool! Falien was behind the attack the whole time. And now she is in great danger…because of me. I should have listened to her. None of this would have happened if I…"

Legolas stopped talking as his heart beat faster. Elsa! His heart cried out, What have I done? Then, as if possessed by a new strength, he tried once again to escape his cuffs.

The bleeding started again. He struggled for another five minutes before he lost all his strength. His hands now looked like they had been chewed up, digested, and regurgitated. He closed his eyes, feeling very dizzy and lightheaded.

Elsa…

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