Bound By Fate
Disclaimer: I do not own LotR, or any characters that appear in any of Tolkien's wonderful writings. However, this plot is all mine, created during a boring day in English class. {This is people speaking in Elvish}. If any actual Elvish appears, it will be translated and noted at the end of this chapter.
Chapter 2: Minas Tirith
When Legolas awoke he found himself pressed, yet again, to the Man named Boromir. He made no motion, however, that alerted Boromir to the fact that he was awake. Instead he watched his surroundings with slightly glazed eyes. 'This must be Minas Tirith…' he mused absently. 'It's so… busy…' He watched as the people of the White City bustled around, buying groceries and other household tools. Many stopped and watched as Prince Boromir passed, murmurs about the prince's bravery and approval for capturing an elf rippling through the crowd. 'Little do they know that he is not even a Prince,' he thought angrily. Indeed, his family had only had 'kings' and 'princes' in it for three generations, including Boromir. Legolas thought back to what had transpired to cause such a turn of events.
It was Ecthelion II who had ruined the peace that the Free Peoples had lived under since the battle of the Last Alliance. When Sauron's shadow began to grow again, the Dark Lord sent messengers to the Steward, offering him the throne of Gondor and a Ring of Power like the ones of old. Tempted by the lure of power, he accepted, allying Gondor and Mordor and following whatever Sauron told him to do. Sauron knew that the Heirs of Isildur would try to claim the throne and endeavoured to have them killed. He thought that he had eradicated the line of kings, but had only succeeded in part: he had Arathorn slain, but none of Sauron's minions had thought to kill his wife, who later discovered that she was with child. That child was now hidden and protected from the wrath of the enemy.
"Estel coia…" he murmured, not realizing that he had spoken aloud. [Hope lives… (1)].
Boromir's arm tightened around the Elf. "So you're awake. I was wondering how long you would be asleep," he said quietly next to Legolas' ear. He fell silent again as they passed the last gate, which lead into the palace. They dismounted in the stables, with much struggling on Legolas' part, and chains were brought forward to Boromir. "Put them on him," Boromir ordered, grabbing the Elf in such a way that he could not escape easily.
Legolas saw the chains and panicked. "No! No, get those away from me!" he cried, struggling. His foot kicked up behind him and hit Boromir solidly in the groin. As Boromir's grip loosened slightly he bolted forwards, breaking Boromir's grip entirely. The horses in the stable all sensed the Elf's fear and began pawing at their stalls, trying to get loose.
Boromir recovered quickly and advanced on the Elf. He was rewarded for this action by Legolas' fist punching him hard across the side of his jaw. Boromir flinched slightly, but took the Elf's momentum to swing him around and press him to the wall. "Chain him!" he yelled to the man with the chains. The chains had shackles at both wrists and both ankles, and both chains were linked together at a large metal collar. The chains from the legs to the neck were purposefully too short, forcing a prisoner to slump over. There was a leash coming from the collar which Boromir grabbed, and began dragging Legolas towards the throne room.
On the way to the throne room Legolas tried with all his might to stop. He planted his feet on the ground, held onto corners, and clutched onto pillars, all with no avail. He was eventually tugged into the throne room, where he saw a man on a throne with a black-cloaked figure speaking to him. "Who dares interrupt my meeting?" the Man in the throne boomed.
Boromir stood where he was. "It is I, Boromir. I greet thee, King and Father, with a trophy," he stated in a menacing tone.
The black-cloaked figure looked over towards Boromir and Legolas and said something to the King. After a moment the King sighed and said, "Bring it here, Boromir, and report to me about the mission." Legolas watched the cloaked figure with trepidation, sensing great evil coming from it.
Boromir obeyed his father, dragging the now trembling Elf behind. When he got before the throne he bowed deeply, then forced Legolas onto his knees. "We were either late or early for the meeting, we aren't sure which yet. When we arrived we found this Elf," he said, grabbing Legolas' hair and forcing the Elf to look up at the King. "There were none of his kindred there and we saw no Rangers, but I left a team behind to watch for them."
Legolas averted his eyes as much as he could from any of the figures there, ashamed that he had been caught so easily, and that he would place his friends in such danger. The cloaked man threw back his hood and Boromir gasped in shock; Legolas looked up to see what was happening and saw what appeared to be a Man, but had pure black eyes. Boromir bowed again, deeper than he had bowed for his father. "Lord Sauron, forgive me, I did not see who you were…" his voice trailed off, expecting a reprimand.
Instead of harsh words directed at Boromir, Sauron grabbed the Elf by the jaw. "It's a very pretty trophy," his said with a malevolent grin. "Do you intend to keep it, or give it away?" he asked.
Legolas was terrified when he realized exactly who was standing in front of him. "S… S… Sauron…." He managed to stammer, nearly collapsing with fear. Fearing that he wouldn't make it out of this room alive, he launched a stream of elvish swearing that would have made the most seasoned Elf-lord blush.
Boromir was about to hit Legolas for his outburst, but stopped when Sauron began laughing. "Quite a spirited one, aren't you?" he asked in as amused a tone as a Dark Lord could manage. His voice then dropped dangerously low and he said, "Just remember, little one, you tried and failed to destroy me before. Even if you can gather enough of your people together, you are simply no match for me." He looked deep into Legolas' eyes, projecting his malice into the Elf's mind. Legolas gave a startled cry, and then his body went limp.
Looking down at Legolas, then back up at Sauron, he asked, "What did you do to him?"
"Nothing that will damage him permanently, I assure you. He might have a headache when he wakes up, but no lasting physical effects," he explained. "Now, young Prince, how have your studies been?"
Boromir thought for a moment before answering. "They have been well. There is one thing I cannot understand in history, though," he admitted. When it was indicated that he should speak of the trouble, he continue. "If the Elves attacked you three thousand years ago and you started eradicating them then, why are there so many of them now?" he asked, sounding very much like a curious child.
Sauron nodded. "An understandable question. You see the Elves are very good at hiding. They are masters of deceit and subterfuge, and will dwell in any forest. The forests work with the elves to hide them, as will any living creatures that dwell there," he explained.
Boromir thought it through, and it made sense. "Thank you, it is all so much clearer now. If I may have your permission to be dismissed, Father, so that you may continue your meeting?" he asked.
Denethor nodded. "Of course, Boromir, and take that creature with you," he added gesturing at Legolas. Boromir bowed to the King and the Dark Lord, then picked up Legolas and left.
He walked through the corridors, ignoring the looks that he was getting. As he walked, his mind drifted over his history lessons. Three thousand years ago the Elves fought against Lord Sauron, trying to eliminate him so that they could dominate Middle Earth. They succeeded partway, managing to weaken him and losing something that had great value to him: a plain gold ring. The elves went into hiding, as did some cowardly Men that called themselves Rangers. Now it was ordered that all elves and Rangers were to be captured, and that if the ring was found that it would be returned immediately to Lord Sauron.
He soon made it to the dungeons where the captured elves and Rangers were kept. The master guard greeted him with a grin. "Fresh meat, your Highness?" he queried with a sadistic smirk.
Boromir nodded and dropped the Elf onto the floor. "This one is mine, so don't harm it too much. We think it might have information about where those traitorous Rangers are hiding, so feel free to question him," he informed the guard.
"Don't worry, highness, after about a week of the dungeons, he'll be begging to tell us where they are," the guard assured Boromir.
"Good," the Prince replied, "keep me informed." With that he walked away, heading back to his room to get washed. The guard picked up Legolas and opened the door to the large cell, and then tossed Legolas in. The door closed quickly before any of the prisoners could escape.
Boromir quickly bathed and trimmed his beard. He dressed in his everyday clothes and sat for a while, thinking about the Elf. He had never captured one before, and was surprised at its struggles. Surely it should know by now that it was useless to struggle against the Gondorian army. Annoyed at the thoughts that kept plaguing him, he summoned a servant. "There was a blonde Elf recently brought to the dungeons. I want him brought here immediately," he ordered. The servant nodded and went to the dungeons.
~*~
Legolas awoke to several pairs of hands touching him, and someone's face near his. He screamed loudly in panic, not knowing where he was and unable to see much in the darkness; the last thing he could remember was Sauron invading his mind…
A strong hand clapped itself over his mouth. "Quiet, little Greenleaf. Don't draw any attention to yourself, we don't want the guards to come in," a familiar voice said soothingly.
Legolas complied, and once the hand was removed he asked, "Who are you? I can't see you."
Several of the hands left his body, and he was aware of several bodies moving away from him. "It is Elrond, young one," the voice answered. "You are in the dungeons of Minas Tirith. We have several rules: don't use our ranks, we don't want the Men to know them, help anyone in here that you can, and do not attract the attention of the guards," he stated as though he had said it many times.
"When did you get captured, and how?" Legolas asked. "And what of your…" his voice trailed off and he gestured to his ring finger.
Elrond sighed. "I was brought here several days ago. I travelled out of Imladris, for there was one of our kindred wounded badly at the Ford of Bruinen, and I was captured. Elladan and Elrohir now guard Imladris and all possessions that lie there. That is not important right now, though, for there are many other things to worry about," he told Legolas. "Once your eyes adjust to the dark you will see many here lying still on the floor. They are the fading ones, the ones who will themselves to leave this place. We must try to bring them hope."
"Estel…" Legolas breathed. "I was sent to the Drúadan Forest with a message. Estel is in Gondor…" His voice trailed off again as Elrond's hand found it's way over his mouth again.
{If you discuss such things, speak in our tongue. The guards don't understand it, so there is no chance of them finding out what we plan. Now, what were you there for?" Elrond asked.
{Estel is in Gondor; I wasn't told why he's here, but he is. There were plans being made to attack Minas Tirith and free all of the captives. Might that knowledge stop some of them from fading?} he asked, looking around the room. His eyes had finally adjusted, and he could see how many of his kindred were lying on the floor, willing themselves to die.
Elrond's face suddenly took on a pained look. "We can try. Come with me, there is someone I want you to see," Elrond told him. He stood up and walked over to one of the elves lying deathly still on the floor. Legolas followed and gasped in shock when he saw who it was. "Ada! [2]" he cried, sinking to the floor and grasping the Silvan elf's hand. [Father].
The blond elf on the floor that looked striking similar to Legolas, opened his eyes. "Legolas…" he mumbled. "Not you… you shouldn't be here, you should be free, in a forest…" Thranduil, King of Mirkwood, mumbled.
Legolas looked down at his once-proud father, and forced himself to smile. "I have good news, Father," he announced. {Estel is here in Gondor. There are arrangements being made to free everyone from this dungeon. Don't let yourself fade, father, we will be free soon,} he told his father.
"I wish I could believe you," he murmured, closing his eyes. "But no one ever escapes from this pit," he said, his voice filled with despair.
Legolas lay down next to his father and rested his head on the elder Elf's chest. "We will escape, father. I promise," he whispered soothingly. At that moment three large guards came in with bright lanterns; the light was so bright that it burned the eyes of many of the elves. They came towards Legolas and grabbed him, trying to pull him away from Thranduil. Elrond was trying to stop them, and had started a fistfight with one of the guards. Thranduil was trying to hold his son to him, just as Legolas was trying to stay with Thranduil. Finally Legolas was pried away from his father, and struggled to get free. Thranduil got up and joined Elrond is beating on the guards. "Ada! Don't let them take me!" he cried, expecting torture at the very least, or perhaps another encounter with Sauron. More guards came in to quell the disturbance, and Legolas watched helplessly as his father and Elrond were pummelled. He was taken from the dungeon and had the chains put on him again. "Where are you taking me?" he asked worriedly.
One of the guards laughed. "Elf, you don't want to know." The tone of his voice was enough to send chills down Legolas' spine. "But you'll find out soon enough."
A/N – There you go, the end of chapter two. Hope you're enjoying it so far. This is not going to focus around Boromir and Legolas, by the way. The next chapter will bring Aragorn and the Hobbits into the story.
Notes on Elvish: If I actually write in Elvish, it will be formulated from The Grey Company's elvish, as it has verbs, grammar rules etc.
[1] – Estel coia: Estel lives. Estel refers to the person; coia is the present form of coi- (to live). If anyone knows a more accurate way of saying this, please e-mail me (queen_bdanya@hotmail.com).
[2] – Ada: this is not from The Grey Company's elvish. It means 'father', as I have seen on numerous fics here on ff.net.