Disclaimer: I don't own any bit of LotR or it's characters, I'm just borrowing! Lol. No profit is made here either…crap

Note: THANK YOU FOR THE REVIEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so glad you guys are reading this!! I love writing it and I'm terribly sorry for the delay but I had some major papers due and then on top of that the demon Writer's Block arrived on my doorstep warding away any ideas. It was terrible!

I hope you guys like this chapter. I kind of wrote it on a whim so I hope it's not bad. Please take my thanks for the reviews and remember to keep them coming!

Chapter Nine: Distant Voices

            Aragorn was growing frustrated. Arwen seemed to be no where to be found. He had checked their room, checked the King's halls, he'd asked almost everyone and yet he had not even the slightest clue as to where she was. His nerves were slowly beginning to twist in him as all he could think of where reasons as to why he could not find her. The absence of Syla was a scar to his soul at the moment, more so than normal.

            As he came to the western balcony his stern gaze swept over the gardens and areas below. Still he did not find the Evenstar. His chest was beginning to tighten with frustration and anxoity. He swallowed as he turned away and stalked back into the Home.

            The Elves he passed glanced at him, worried. Most passed the expression on his face for concern over his friend and his beloved, but others still questioned. Aragorn, however, ignored them as he passed off all the fair haired Elves.

            His eyes shot to the side suddenly as he recognized another Elf that had riden with Arwen on her travels here. He quickly moved towards the Elf and didn't quite take note of the look on his face.

            "Excuse me-" Aragorn started but stopped aburptly as he finally truly looked at the Elf. He frowned at the strange look on his face.

            "My Lord." The Elf breathed.

            Aragorn suddenly noticed the great commotion behind the Elf just in the Grand Room. Most of those in the room shone in Mirkwood Armor. A frown still tight on the King of Gondor's face he looked at the Elf.

            "My Lord…'Tis the Evenstar."

            "What is?" Aragorn questioned harshly.

            "A note my Lord..It was left to yourself and the King." He told the man. "It read of the Evenstar's taking."

            Aragorn's uneasy mind did not completely understand what the Elf had just told him. He tilted his head slightly, confusion on his face as much as a tint of rage. "What did you just say?"

            "Arwen has been taken Lord Elessar." The Elf said lowly and firmly.

            Anger exploded in the man and he shoved the Elf back into the wall. "You lie!" He shouted. Denial was too strong in him to notice what he was doing. This was not the one who took his betrothed..but Aragorn was certain he was lying. "Where is she?!"

            "I do not know my Lord!" The Elf exclaimed. "Now get a hold of yourself!" He ordered, shoving the King away. He could understand he supposed…but he was not going to be the one anger was going to be taken out on.

            Aragorn staggered back. His breathing was harsh and angered. His mind was spinning and he could not understand this. Part of him knew Arwen was gone, another screamed that she wasn't. He tried thinking it was a nightmare and he should wake up but he knew he wouldn't. This was all real. Arwen was really gone..

*          *          *

            Legolas sighed looking at the torn ground. The same tracks, the same offenders, the same reason. The bodies of the dead Uruk-Hai were even left. They did not care that they were in the forsets of Mirkwood, they wanted it to be known that they had walked these lands without problems.

            "Legolas?"

            The Prince looked to his brother, Thrundir, then back to the ground.

            "We may be able to catch them from here." The Elf supplied as he neared his brother.

            Legolas studied twisted and turned patch of thick weeds and grass. In the minst of that was a small revine. ..He could barely make out where someone had knelt there in hiding. He had no doubt that someone was Syla as he could see there was a small struggle right near the area. Had she been close to escaping? ..What had happened when they caught her again?

            Legolas sighed and stood fully again. He looked at his brother who was still waiting for a response. "I cannot help but feel they want us to catch up to them."

            Thrundir frowned as he neared his brother further. He glanced at the water that trickled by on the bed line before replying, "A trap?"

            The younger brother nodded slightly, tossing down a stick he had in his hand. He shook his head slightly then before looking to the group of Elves scouting about the area. "They walk here without fear, without respect. No Uruk-Hai do that, they are not that ignorant."

            "These are not normal Uruk-Hai, Legolas. I saw them with my own eyes."

            "Exactly my point. They are stronger you said, they are obviously smarter. I fell right into line with what they wanted me to do. I took the rope and ran with it Thrundir not knowing that Syla was at the end of it." Legolas said roughly.

            Thrundir watched his younger brother a moment. "You feel guilty then?" He questioned.

            "Of course I do." Legolas said sharply giving him a cross look. "How could I not? And do not tell me I should not feel it because you know I should."

            Thrundir raised a brow at his brother. So he had changed. He truly had. He knew the difference between illusion and reality now. He knew his rights and his wrongs more now than he did before he left for the Fellowship. …If he had known that before he would not of let Syla go the first time.

            "I do not intend on brainwashing you to believe you have done nothing in mistake. But just know this Legolas, you are not the only one who would have fallen for that trap. I probably would have, Vilis, Hirdirn, maybe even Father could have fallen for the illusion they set for you. Feel all the guilt you want,  you are intitled to it, but do not let Syla go again Legolas." He warned firmly.

            Legolas's frown deeped. "What?"

            "You lost her once only because of yourself. Now, you stand here debating on what you should be feeling when the Uruk-Hai and what ever that new devilry is with them are traveling further and further away with her. Do not loose her again my brother…you do not always know who will find her." Thrundir swallowed wondering if the younger Elf received what he was trying to say.

            In truth he was telling Legolas to get moving past this stage but he was also trying to tell him that if not for the bond he and Legolas shared he would have taken Syla for his own. ..In all honesty he had tried dispite the bond but he had promised himself he would never again. He had promised himself, Syla, and Legolas.

            The Prince thought on this a moment. Thrundir waited for his conclusion but was relieved and slightly disappointed that Legolas nodded saying, "You are right my brother. We should ride quickly. Lingering here will not bring her safely back."

*          *          *

            It had taken her long enough, but Syla was finally beginning to realize where it was they were and what direction they were going. She had never even thought of the river they had been near a time ago to be of any significgance for she had seen that river often before.

            It was only now as her mind grew quiet did she start to piece all of it together. While she was unconcious they probably headed south, southwest. Of course she had awoken and a short time later they were near the river. Her mind just now regisitered that the river was really Forest River at its smallest point meaning they were just a hand full of miles outside the higher lands of the King's Halls.

            She could even see the glimmering of the second fork of the river ahead. They truly were just below the great city. That was also why she had heard Thrundir and Hirdirn. They must have been riding on Elf Path.

            A noise made her rethink her directions. She could hear rapids. Where on Forest River were rapids so close to the King's Halls?

            The Divide! They were at the Flow's Divide! From Forest River they had turned west and now they were heading towards the great river's divide of direction. It was the true fork of the entire river.

            Syla was so caught in her thoughts that she nearly ran into the Uruk-Hai that had stopped infront of her. She avoided him however and looked around, breathing somewhat heavily from the long run. They had all stopped without a word. Had this been planned? Kilier glanced at her with a disgusted look.

            Biefir snorted as he looked at his leader. Kilier looked back at him and actually laughed. A deep terrifying rumble that made Syla slowly step back.

            "Where are you going?" Her keeper questioned, tugging on the rope harshly. "You can't go anywhere."

            The Elf said nothing as she stumbled forward. She shot the Uruk-Hai a glare and he chuckled. She sighed as a few sat down. They must be settling for a little while again now. She did not want to sit down though as she felt more vulnarable that way for some reason.

            "You Elves reek of purity and fragrence. Do you not ever tire of it?" Biefir questioned roughly as he circled behind her.

            "Do you not tire of filth and death?" She shot back.

            The group laughed at her and she said nothing.

            "So perfect. So noble. So..beautiful as you say. That's what it's called isn't it? When something is a pleasure to the eyes?" He asked.

            Syla was not sure whether or not to answer but when she did she sounded as though she was confident and being rebellious with just one word, "Yes."

            "Does he tell you you're beautiful?"

            Anger swelled in the she-Elf. She glared at the strange creature as he towered over her. " 'Tis no business of yours as it seems you have the heritage of a mule rat. I doubt you could even rape a victim for you would scare them to death before you dropped your pants." She snapped back. Truly she did not know even if Uruk-Hai could do such a thing as they were not reproductive.

            A smart and painful throb went through the side of her face as she realized that, yes, prehaps they could or at least they knew the meaning of it.

            The she-Elf blinked hard to try to focus again. The throbbing on her face did not dull and the iron taste of blood seeped into her mouth.

            "Would you like to be a witness to what you speak?!" Biefir boomed as she had the sense the scramble away. He grabbed the rope to her hands and forced her towards him again. "You sound so certain. If I remember correctly Elves die if they're raped aren't they?"

            "Biefir, that's enough!" Kilier ordered.

            Biefir growled before stalking away from the she-Elf. Syla watched him go, feeling blood trickle down her chin. She wiped it away and cursed herself for how badly her hands shook. Rape was a horrible way to die for an Elf..for anyone.

*          *          *

            Arwen imagined that it had been some time since she had been in this position because she was extremely stiff for her limber body. As she opened her eyes she realized she was looking at the side of a horse. It was not an Elven horse, she could tell that as she jerked along with the rider.

            Soon enough though she realized that someone was riding with her and it was no graceful creature. The Evenstar moved to struggle but found her hands bound behind her and a rope tied around her ankle and legs.

            Lifting her head she found that she was covered with a sheet. She shook it away so she could see and her eyes found that it was just into the noon. Looking at her capture she would have screamed if she could have but her mouth was gagged.

            It looked at her with demonic eyes and the Elf froze. He bared his teeth with a growl.

            Arwen, the Evenstar of Rivendell, knew no more but blackness again after that for just before she felt the strangest tingling feeling burn in her chest.

*          *          *

            Aragorn's fists had not unballed themselves for almost an hour now. In all the great Home of Thranduil no one saw Arwen be taken. No one saw her since King Thranduil had dismissed her into the sorrowfull halls.

            Rage was dwelling in the man crying to be released. He was a man, no matter his upbringing, and he was not as able as the Elves around him to control his rage. He could now not understand how Legolas had seemed so quiet about the entire situation with Syla. Had he not felt was he was now? How could the Elf not want to slaughter every last one that had ever threathened the one he loved with every fiber of his being?

            ..Well…Perhaps he had. Aragorn silently shuddered remembering the flame that blared in his friend's eyes. The pure, dangerous flame that danced in the Elf's eyes was one of havoc and exceptional danger…for both the offenders and himself. Aragorn had not thought of it until now. All Elves had heightened emotions, he had truly never seen an Elf full of rage.

            Would he see Legolas like that?

            "Estel." Thranduil spoke.

            Aragorn turned to the Elven King.

            "I am sorry. There is nothing we can do to find Arwen. No tracks were left, no persons were seen, nothing. I do not know what to do my young friend." The King said with a sorrowful shake of his head.

            "Half of my forces are riding in search of her, a third of them are awaiting Legolas's call, and the others are scattered in confusion. In all rights this should not have happened." Thranduil added lowly.

            "Things like these never are supposed to happen." Aragorn breathed, trying to calm his anger.

            Thranduil nodded. He glanced at the rider that had come baring the message that his other two sons had arrived but had continued on with their brother in search of this Elven Keeper that he was so inticed with.

            "They must be doing this for a reason. This is far too planned." Aragorn muttered dangerously.

            "I agree..But there could be a hundred reasons, Estel." The King replied. "War is dangerous, at times post war is even more for the strongest of them."

            Aragorn sighed harshly and nodded. He agreed..but he was not going to stay here and do nothing…

*          *          *

            The entire group was caught off guard as Legolas reined hard in, for the second time that day. Again they swarmed to miss him. His brothers turned to see him but did not approach as the Prince was alone in a flurry of leaves and dust as he stared into nothing but the forest.

            The group said nothing as they gained control of their steeds and centered themselves among their ranks and such as they could their Prince was concentrating.

            He knew he heard it. He knew he had! What was it? The air had shifted so dramatically. The trees had completely turned direction it seemed and the songs of the birds toned differently to his ears. He had heard her, he knew he had.

            "Legolas.."

            His head snapped to the side but he could not decide where she was.

            "Legolas..please."

            His heart pounded in his head as he could feel his blood move through his entire body. He felt suddenly dizzy and the wound to his side that had not bothered him all morning tingled to life. It tingled until it was a painful burn.

            "..You know – You know what you must do."

            "Syla?" Legolas practically whispered. His vision was wavering and he did not hear what his brothers were saying.

            "..please.."

            "No."

            Legolas wavered on his horse. Had he just said that or was that his voice? He never remembered speaking.

            "I will not."

            "Legolas.."

            "No!"

            "Don't loose her again."

            "You must."

            "I will not!"

            "..Love me."

            "I always love you."

            "..Then-"

            All was darkness to the Prince of Mirkwood with one last flame from his side and a sudden silence to the distant voices that spoke. Only a final call from his brothers broke through to him as he fell from his strong steed to the leafy floor below.

-           -           -

            Ok! I hope that was all right for you guys. Hopefully I'll be able to update SOONER this time. I hope you guys can forgive me for the delay! Please tell me what you think!!!! Thanks! I love you guys! *Hugs*

D.Night

p.s. Anyone got ideas on what the distant voices are forshadowing? *grins*

Oh yeah, and as far as the places that Syla was thinking of, I got those from a map of Mirkwood out of the book The Hobbit. I tried to get them as accurate as possible. It never actually shows were Thrunduil's home is so I guessed it was at The King's Halls. And as far as the death by rape thing for Elves that is actually legit. I found it in some fact thing. Kinda freaky huh?