Author's Note: If you didn't know that I didn't create it, you wouldn't be
reading it in the first place. Yes, that does make sense. Thanks for all
the nice reviews, it's nice to know that a lot of people enjoy Legolas
torture as much as I do! And yes, I had a really great time writing this
chapter. Hehe, enjoy!
Chapter 9
Legolas' eyes jerked open as if on their own accord. He blinked, trying to clear his mind from the heavy sleep he had just put himself through. It was not often he did that, as it was often hard to wake up from and be on the alert. And something told him that right now he had to be on the alert.
He struggled for a full five seconds to clear his mind and vision and bring himself up into a sitting position on the bed. And in that five seconds he realized that there was somebody in the room with him. Before the self-induced fog could lift from Legolas, he felt something grab him around the throat and haul him roughly upwards.
Legolas stumbled as he was pulled off the bed and shoved to the floor. His mind was definitely clearing up now, but he still felt groggy and at a severe disadvantage. Before he could gain his footing on his own, something smashed across his chest and the little stamina he had gained was gone. The pain was enough to finally clear his mind, however, and his eyes suddenly focused sharply.
There were actually several someones in his room, and they all had those hated cloaks and hoods on. Legolas wondered briefly as to why they still insisted on the cloaks when he knew what they were, but the thoughts were wiped clear for the moment when he realized that they did not have the best of intentions for him. Legolas drew himself up tautly, his muscles bunched and ready to sprig into action. He was in a slight defensive crouch and he stayed that way, waiting to see what would happen.
One of the dark figures in front of him stepped aside, a sort of subtle signal, and the three figures standing behind him rose up to take his place. In dismay, Legolas saw them all advance upon him at the same time. At least they did not hold any weapons, from what he could tell anyway.
Legolas took his time and waited, not wanting to waste any of his energy with being the first to lash out. The first dark figure reached him a few seconds before the others, and Legolas lashed out with his arm with lightning speed, sending the figure whirling to the side. His opponent was forgotten as he immediately refocused his attention on the two still up.
The two remaining ones reached him at the same time and Legolas had to think quickly. He went down into a low crouch and swept his leg out, catching one of them and sending him crashing to the ground. The other one anticipated the move, however, and with speed that matched Legolas' own reached down and grabbed ahold of the young prince's leg. Legolas tried to free it, but the other elf's grip was like iron and he yanked on it, forcing Legolas to come out of his crouch and fight to keep his balance. Once Legolas was up and off-balance, a fist came up to meet his jaw and he was soon sprawled up against the wall.
That was all they needed. The two he had already felled had recovered and all three converged on him. Two of them pinned his arms to the wall and the third stood directly in front of him. For one moment, Legolas was distracted as his eyes fell upon the fourth figure in the room. This one was still standing where he had moved to, and not moving an inch. He was merely watching, enjoying what was going on. Legolas' attention was immediately brought back to his three current problems when a hard fist collided with his stomach.
Legolas let out a gasp and tried to double over, but the two holding him were cruel and did not give him any leeway in which to catch his breath. Before he could even attempt to drag in a breath, he was struck again in the same spot. Legolas' breath exploded out of him and he saw spots in front of his eyes. He frantically tried to take in a complete breath but he was struck a third time. Legolas' knees gave out, but the two had no problems in supporting his weight.
Legolas braced himself for another blow, but this time it was withheld. His tormentors momentarily forgotten, Legolas merely concentrated on getting some air into his body. He was almost starting to breathe normally again when an open hand struck him across the mouth, snapping his head to the side and splitting his lip open.
Legolas grimaced, which only increased the pain in his lip, but he made no sound. It seemed like an insignificant matter, but to him it was the best he could do at the moment. He would not give them the satisfaction of hearing him in pain.
As if the elf in front of him could sense his thoughts, he dealt the young prince a particularly vicious blow across his chin, knocking his head the other way. Pain exploded in Legolas' jaw and he was almost sure that it had been broken. He closed his eyes against the assault and prayed that he would simply get through this. He was pretty sure that their intent was not to kill him, simply to torment him. A sudden blow to the chest erased that thought.
Just when he thought that perhaps they were going to kill him, the two elves suddenly released their grip on his arms. Legolas collapsed immediately at the sudden lack of support and he held his jaw in his hand. He looked up at the elves that were now collected in front of him, including the fourth one who had remained an observer.
"Your presence is not welcomed here," one of the elves said, "and it will not be a pleasant stay for you for as long as you are here. Fair warning for a creature as miserable as you, and more than you deserve." And with that as their only words to Legolas, they turned and silently left the room, closing the heavy door tightly behind them.
As soon as they were gone, Legolas slumped forward until he was laying facedown on the floor. He rolled immediately when his injured stomach and chest objected to that. He wanted to crawl into the bed, but his body told him that movement would not be a good thing for him at the moment. So he was content to lay on the floor, trying to not even allow his chest to move that much even though his body desperately craved air.
After several moments of struggle in which he finally started to breathe normally, Legolas was able to think again. He was not wanted here, that much was obvious, so why was he here? And why would they not simply kill him and be done with it? Despite what the elf-lord had stated, Legolas could not imagine them wanting to help Mirkwood and his people.
That was as far in thinking that he was going to allow himself to do and Legolas slowly and painfully pulled himself up to his feet. All traces of grace had long since left him and he felt like a clumsy human as he struggled to move to the bed. He flopped down unceremoniously and then lay on the top of the bed gasping for breath again. His throat convulsed and Legolas rolled onto his side in order to rid his mouth of blood that had collected there. He touched the side of his mouth and found the evidence of his split lip, then gently felt along his jaw. Even though it had felt like it, he did not think that it was actually broken. It would definitely be sore and bruised for a while, but nothing overly serious.
He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and rolled onto his back again. He wanted to drift off to sleep again, but this time he kept his eyes open. Never again during his stay here would he allow himself to be caught off guard. That was the best defense he had against them. They had declared as much that this would not be the last time, so he would always be ready for them. From now on, he would try to take out as many of them as he could before being brought down himself. If they wanted to make his life miserable, he would do his damnedest to do the same.
Right before he drifted into an uneasy sleep, Legolas renewed the vow he had made ever since awakening in the cold depths of the dungeon. They would never hear him make a sound, and they would definitely never cause him to make a sound. That was one satisfaction he could control and deny them.
Chapter 9
Legolas' eyes jerked open as if on their own accord. He blinked, trying to clear his mind from the heavy sleep he had just put himself through. It was not often he did that, as it was often hard to wake up from and be on the alert. And something told him that right now he had to be on the alert.
He struggled for a full five seconds to clear his mind and vision and bring himself up into a sitting position on the bed. And in that five seconds he realized that there was somebody in the room with him. Before the self-induced fog could lift from Legolas, he felt something grab him around the throat and haul him roughly upwards.
Legolas stumbled as he was pulled off the bed and shoved to the floor. His mind was definitely clearing up now, but he still felt groggy and at a severe disadvantage. Before he could gain his footing on his own, something smashed across his chest and the little stamina he had gained was gone. The pain was enough to finally clear his mind, however, and his eyes suddenly focused sharply.
There were actually several someones in his room, and they all had those hated cloaks and hoods on. Legolas wondered briefly as to why they still insisted on the cloaks when he knew what they were, but the thoughts were wiped clear for the moment when he realized that they did not have the best of intentions for him. Legolas drew himself up tautly, his muscles bunched and ready to sprig into action. He was in a slight defensive crouch and he stayed that way, waiting to see what would happen.
One of the dark figures in front of him stepped aside, a sort of subtle signal, and the three figures standing behind him rose up to take his place. In dismay, Legolas saw them all advance upon him at the same time. At least they did not hold any weapons, from what he could tell anyway.
Legolas took his time and waited, not wanting to waste any of his energy with being the first to lash out. The first dark figure reached him a few seconds before the others, and Legolas lashed out with his arm with lightning speed, sending the figure whirling to the side. His opponent was forgotten as he immediately refocused his attention on the two still up.
The two remaining ones reached him at the same time and Legolas had to think quickly. He went down into a low crouch and swept his leg out, catching one of them and sending him crashing to the ground. The other one anticipated the move, however, and with speed that matched Legolas' own reached down and grabbed ahold of the young prince's leg. Legolas tried to free it, but the other elf's grip was like iron and he yanked on it, forcing Legolas to come out of his crouch and fight to keep his balance. Once Legolas was up and off-balance, a fist came up to meet his jaw and he was soon sprawled up against the wall.
That was all they needed. The two he had already felled had recovered and all three converged on him. Two of them pinned his arms to the wall and the third stood directly in front of him. For one moment, Legolas was distracted as his eyes fell upon the fourth figure in the room. This one was still standing where he had moved to, and not moving an inch. He was merely watching, enjoying what was going on. Legolas' attention was immediately brought back to his three current problems when a hard fist collided with his stomach.
Legolas let out a gasp and tried to double over, but the two holding him were cruel and did not give him any leeway in which to catch his breath. Before he could even attempt to drag in a breath, he was struck again in the same spot. Legolas' breath exploded out of him and he saw spots in front of his eyes. He frantically tried to take in a complete breath but he was struck a third time. Legolas' knees gave out, but the two had no problems in supporting his weight.
Legolas braced himself for another blow, but this time it was withheld. His tormentors momentarily forgotten, Legolas merely concentrated on getting some air into his body. He was almost starting to breathe normally again when an open hand struck him across the mouth, snapping his head to the side and splitting his lip open.
Legolas grimaced, which only increased the pain in his lip, but he made no sound. It seemed like an insignificant matter, but to him it was the best he could do at the moment. He would not give them the satisfaction of hearing him in pain.
As if the elf in front of him could sense his thoughts, he dealt the young prince a particularly vicious blow across his chin, knocking his head the other way. Pain exploded in Legolas' jaw and he was almost sure that it had been broken. He closed his eyes against the assault and prayed that he would simply get through this. He was pretty sure that their intent was not to kill him, simply to torment him. A sudden blow to the chest erased that thought.
Just when he thought that perhaps they were going to kill him, the two elves suddenly released their grip on his arms. Legolas collapsed immediately at the sudden lack of support and he held his jaw in his hand. He looked up at the elves that were now collected in front of him, including the fourth one who had remained an observer.
"Your presence is not welcomed here," one of the elves said, "and it will not be a pleasant stay for you for as long as you are here. Fair warning for a creature as miserable as you, and more than you deserve." And with that as their only words to Legolas, they turned and silently left the room, closing the heavy door tightly behind them.
As soon as they were gone, Legolas slumped forward until he was laying facedown on the floor. He rolled immediately when his injured stomach and chest objected to that. He wanted to crawl into the bed, but his body told him that movement would not be a good thing for him at the moment. So he was content to lay on the floor, trying to not even allow his chest to move that much even though his body desperately craved air.
After several moments of struggle in which he finally started to breathe normally, Legolas was able to think again. He was not wanted here, that much was obvious, so why was he here? And why would they not simply kill him and be done with it? Despite what the elf-lord had stated, Legolas could not imagine them wanting to help Mirkwood and his people.
That was as far in thinking that he was going to allow himself to do and Legolas slowly and painfully pulled himself up to his feet. All traces of grace had long since left him and he felt like a clumsy human as he struggled to move to the bed. He flopped down unceremoniously and then lay on the top of the bed gasping for breath again. His throat convulsed and Legolas rolled onto his side in order to rid his mouth of blood that had collected there. He touched the side of his mouth and found the evidence of his split lip, then gently felt along his jaw. Even though it had felt like it, he did not think that it was actually broken. It would definitely be sore and bruised for a while, but nothing overly serious.
He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and rolled onto his back again. He wanted to drift off to sleep again, but this time he kept his eyes open. Never again during his stay here would he allow himself to be caught off guard. That was the best defense he had against them. They had declared as much that this would not be the last time, so he would always be ready for them. From now on, he would try to take out as many of them as he could before being brought down himself. If they wanted to make his life miserable, he would do his damnedest to do the same.
Right before he drifted into an uneasy sleep, Legolas renewed the vow he had made ever since awakening in the cold depths of the dungeon. They would never hear him make a sound, and they would definitely never cause him to make a sound. That was one satisfaction he could control and deny them.