Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
A/N: Thank you to all who read and reviewed my story your input was very valuable. I will not be answering any questions directly; I hope that they will be answered as the story goes on.
Chapter 2: The Rescue
Running swiftly toward his rooms Legolas could only think of the girl, and her eyes. Throwing open the large, ornate doors that lead into his lush, richly decorated sitting room, he called for his personal servant. "Halidar! Halidar! Where could that old elf be?" Legolas called, looking around franticly, "Halidar! HALI…"
"I am here," said a tall, slender, green eyed, blonde haired elf pushing aside a tapestry of an ancient medow and closing the secret servants' door behind him.
"Halidar! I need to know were the low servants quarters are!" said Legolas franticly.
"Why, My Lord?" asked Halidar, looking surprised at not only the question, but at the fright he noticed on the prince's face.
"I have done something awful," Legolas recounted what had happened just a few minutes ago on the outdoor passage. "I should have stayed. She did not do anything, it was my fault! I wasn't watching were I was going…" Legolas looked up at his servant, confidante, and friend, with a look of guilt and sadness. Halidar had been with him since he was a youngling, and was his partner in crime more times than either could count. "You did not see her eyes, she is so sad; she does not deserve fifty lashes, not because of me. We have to help her!" Legolas said, shutting his eyes picturing the girls face.
"My Lord," said Halidar, in a soft comforting voice, "it is not your place to meddle in the matter of servants. Tell the master of the middle servants your concerns, am sure something will be done."
"No!" Cried Legolas, "She is to receive fifty lashes, because of me. No one deserves that! Help me or not, that is your choice, but I am going to find her!"
Placing his hands on the younger Elf, Halidar looked deep into his friend's dark blue eyes. The look of absolute determination dominated them; bringing his lips to the forehead of the Elf standing before him, Halidar made his decision.
Pulling away from Legolas, Halidar spoke softly, "We can not have a young Princeling wandering around the servants quarter's at night, now can we." The mouths of both Elf-men broke out into wide smiles.
"Now wouldn't that be a scandal?" Legolas said with a small laugh, clapping his hand on the older Elf's shoulder.
Putting on their dark green Elven cloaks, they walk out on to the balcony. "I'll jump down first to make sure it's clear," whispered Legolas. Putting a hand on the rail he easily threw his legs over and dropped down three stories and landing almost silently on the forest floor below. Crouching low against the wall of the Palace Legolas looked around the corner, checking for any guards that may be about.
Halidar waited patiently for Legolas's signal. More than once he had been talked into one of Legolas's schemes, whether it was simply to sneak food from the kitchens, or helping him to meet an Elf or Elf-ess for a "rendezvous" out in the forest, near the palace. Hearing the soft hoot of a Hawk-owl, he knew the coast was clear. Following Legolas's example Halidar placed a hand on the rail and swung his legs over. He landed silently, crouching he joined Legolas near the wall, both easily blending into the shadows.
"Not bad for an old one," whispered Legolas nearly inaudibly with a slight smirk, when Halidar joined him (in reality Halidar is only 500 years older).
"Not to bad your self youngling," Halidar answered. "The fastest way to the low servants' quarters is through a secret passage, on the north wall." Halidar took the lead rounding the corner. Walking quickly and quietly they made there way towards the north wall, being careful to hide from any guards.
~*~
Reaching the north wall Halidar ran his hand over the wall until he found the small niche in the stone wall, pushing on it, a small, hidden portion of the wall opened up to reveal a long narrow stair leading deep under the palace.
Following Halidar, Legolas ran quickly down the narrow stair, being careful not to trip, the passage was dark, even to an Elf's keen eyes. Stopping at the bottom to look for a torch Legolas looked around to get his bearings, they were deep under the palace in a low ceiling, narrow passage that looked as if it ran on forever.
"Where are we?" asked Legolas.
"In a passage between the Old Amory and the First Treasury," Halidar answered. Finding a torch and quickly lighting it, Halidar started down the passage.
Running down the straight passage hearing only the soft echo of there feet on the stone floor, running on for what seemed like forever, they finally reached another stair leading upwards to the land above. Stopping at the top of the stair Halidar put his ear on door. Legolas stood, not even daring to breathe while Halidar listened for approaching guards. Turning, Halidar looked at the prince behind him.
"I will go first to scout the corners," said Halidar.
"Why you, guards will not question me about what I am doing," said Legolas
"No, they may not ask questions, but they will speculate and tongues will wag. It is less of a scandal for me to be in the Servants' Quarter than it is for you," answered Halidar. Turning he pushed the stone door open just enough to let his slim body through.
Legolas walked up to the door and pressed his ear to it. He heard nothing for a time, then low voices just out side the door. Guards had found Halidar and were asking his business.
~*~
Halidar was just walking silently back towards the door when he heard soft footsteps behind him. Turning he pressed his back against the wall using the shadows for cover; he waited for the elf to turn the corner. Seeing it was a guard and who the guard was, Halidar came out of the shadows.
"Hello Halidar! What brings you out to the Servants' Quarter this night?" asked the large elf wearing a leather jerkin and a helm of silver that gleamed in the moonlight.
"I am running an errand for Prince Legolas, he requires services from one of the servants," stated Halidar.
"Services, eh," said the guard with a slight snicker, "I wonder what type of services our dear Prince requires?"
"That is the business of my Master," remarked Halidar.
"I was simply inquiring. Wonder who the lucky servant is, Elf of Elf-ess?" the guard asked quietly to himself. Looking at Halidar's face he knew he would not be getting any answers. "Well I will just have to ask Legolas myself."
"Yes, Goldrin you will," Halidar answered with a small smile on his lips.
"Be on your way then. We would not want the Prince to wait long to fill his bed," said Goldrin with a laugh. With that the guard turned from Halidar and continued on his way. Turning towards the door Halidar let out a low hoot of the Long-eared owl letting Legolas know that all was clear.
Legolas silently opened the door peering out and quickly stepped out of the passage.
"How could you let him think I was having you get me a servant to sleep with?" asked Legolas Halidar indignantly.
"It's not like you have not done it before," he answered.
"I will have to have a chat with Goldrin, otherwise his lips tongue will wag," said Legolas.
At this Halidar gave a small snort. "I know how that chat will go, you getting the rough end of the stick, if you catch my meaning. Besides it is proper for a servant to come to the prince, not the other way around, however." Turning Halidar continued towards the Low Servants Quarters. Following behind him Legolas's cheeks turned a slight shade of pink, thinking on some previous "chats" with Goldrin, this is considered blushing heavily, for an Elf.
Using the cover of shadows Halidar and Legolas easily slipped into the courtyard of the middle servants, though not as large as the courtyards of the nobles, it was pleasant. In the center was a small flowing fountain surrounded by a small garden with stepping stones weaving a path through it, on the outer rim were benches surrounded by trees for the servants to relax when their duties are done. Legolas looked around the courtyard in wonder.
"I did not know this was here," he said in a hushed voice.
"There are many things in this palace that you are unaware of Legolas," whispered Halidar, "Come now, we are almost there."
They quickly ran through the courtyard carefully avoiding any soil that would leave any trace of a foot print. At the other end they came upon a narrow passageway wide enough for only two Elves to walk abreast. It was a dark winding passage with only a few torches here and there to give light. After a few minutes the passage opened out into a long corridor lined with short, heavy, arch shaped wooden doors, the names of the occupants were carved into small white, wooden name plates placed on each door.
"What is the name of the girl?" Halidar asked, looking at the name plates of the door nearest to him.
"I do not know," answered Legolas sadly.
"Then how do you propose we find her?" questioned Halidar slightly annoyed.
"I will find her," stated Legolas and with determination he stalked off down the corridor looking at each name plate for any clue about the girl. At each door Legolas got more impatient about finding the girl and his determination waned. Finally he was coming to the last of the doors when he felt it, a cold wind swept past him and chilled him to the bone, fear over took him. The wind passed him and entered the very last door on Legolas's right. Turning Legolas looked at the door feeling fear and a need to enter. Legolas walked slowly up to the door, looking at the name plate, the name on it was Anánia. Placing his hand on the handle he pushed back his fear, slowly he opened the door reviling a small, sparsely furnished, dark room. Looking around Legolas noticed a small bureau with a stand mirror off to his right, a small wooden chair towards the back wall, looking to his left Legolas saw a small bed push up against the wall, lying on top was a dark figure, face down and barely breathing, her long dark hair was greasy and knotted. Legolas slowly stepped into the room, walking softly towards the bed, reaching out his hand he pushed back some of the girls hair reveling the rounded ears that marked the race of man. Touching the tip of the ear Legolas felt a deep chill; placing his hand on her face he felt her cold and clammy skin. Looking down her back he noticed that it stuck to her back and was black with dried blood. Legolas turned and looked at Halidar that had just entered the room.
"We need to get her out of here," whispered Legolas, carefully turning the girl over and picking her up cradling her in his arms. The girl moaned softly, the only sign that she was still alive. Turning with the limp body Legolas left the cold room and followed Halidar swiftly back to his rooms, again being careful of guards and taking secret passages. They were lucky and did not meet any guards.
Once back in Legolas's rooms Legolas placed his burden on his bed. Going to his travel pack he pulled out a leather pouch. He then turned to Halidar and handed him the pouch.
"Go boil some water and infuse some of these herbs in them," he said as he turned back to the girl carefully turning her over to lie on the stomach, "I will try and get these robes off of her." With that Halidar left and Legolas silently set to his work, gently, taking a small knife, he started to cut away the cloth on her back, trying very carefully not to open up any of the wounds.
After a short time Halidar returned with a pitched of steaming water and several clean clothes. Looking at the girl lying on his master's bed, he went over and set the pitch of water next to Legolas, placing a hand on the young Elf's shoulder he looked into the princes eyes, pain and guilt is what he found there.
"Legolas, you are not responsible for her life," he said. Legolas looked up at his servant.
"Yes, but I hope I can make it better," he whispered more to himself than to the Elf next to him. Taking up a cloth Legolas dipped it into the steaming water and began to clean out the wounds. The warm water penetrated deep, and the herbs provided both medication and a warm aroma to fill the room, warming the girl and bringing her back from the well of darkness that had stole her away.