Disclaimer: For full disclaimer, please see chapter 1.
A/N:
*looks at pointy objects she is being threatened with*
Uhm, well, okay, I think you've made your point!! I will try to finish the story before I leave, but I can't make any promises. But right now it looks as if there are going to be about 21 chapters, so I should be able to finish it. Emphasis on 'should'... *g*
*grins*
The reviews seem to have focused on a new topic now, which could be summarized as "Make them pay!!". Well, I'll see what I can do!!! *evil grin*
Very well, we've arrived at chapter 15, which is a miracle in itself, and quite surprising really, since I told my mother in the beginning "Nooooo, it will definitely _not_ have more than twelve chapters, don't worry, I will stop writing this 'weird' story soon..."
Ah well, it is not MY fault when they just refuse to do what I say and start running into collapsing caves and stuff like that... *g*
Have fun and a if you'd submit a review it would make me extraordinarily happy!!
Oh, and ZAM KENOBI: The dwarf maidens are for you!!! *g*
Chapter 15
Legolas was floating in a vast sea of white mist, or that was the closest he got to describing it later. A more reasonable part of his brain wondered briefly how it was possible to float on mist no matter what colour, but it soon fell silent again as his mind lost itself in the wonderful sense of peace that seemed to fill his whole being. There was no pain, no fears, only the faint memory of something that had happened not so long ago and that had appeared to be important. Ignoring that small flaw in the perfect happiness he was experiencing, the prince became aware after what felt like an eternity that some noises that seemed to come from a very long way away were beginning to invade his consciousness.
He tried to take no notice of it, and that worked quite well for a while. But soon, the noises became more persistent, and he felt as if someone was tugging on his arm, which was very curious, for he was sure that he was alone in the mist. But then again, it was hard to see anything clearly in here, so it could be possible that someone else was here, he reasoned.
Puzzled, he tried to concentrate on the faint sounds that were beginning to register in his comfortably numb brain.
"Legolas … wake … you … please …"
He grimaced mentally, wondering who it was that was calling out that name. And who it was he was talking about.
'Well,' he decided, trying to sink back into the comfortable white mist, '"Legolas" should really wake up before the voice start yelling again.'
He wasn't sure why, but he knew that he didn't want to wake up himself. No, it was much nicer to stay here and float on the beautiful white mist.
He groaned as the voice grew louder, and this time Legolas could hear the worry in it.
"Legolas, please … wake up now, mellonamin. Come on, open your eyes, you can do it! Stop being so stubborn and wake up!"
The voice sounded annoyed now, something which the fair haired prince could understand only too well. Whoever that Legolas person was, he should really get up now, he decided. It was a mystery to him how he could still be asleep with all this racket that was going on. The tugging increased, and for the first time something else penetrated the shell that enveloped him: Pain. He groaned again. Couldn't this person just leave him alone?
"My friend, please … you have to wake! I will not explain to Estel that you, you of all people, died in a cave-in! Come on, you stupid wood-elf, get up! I grow tired of this!" the voice spoke in an exasperated tone of voice, but Legolas was sure he could hear it tremble slightly.
"If you do not open your eyes now, I will … burn your bow! Don't think I wouldn't!"
Another voice spoke up which sounded very much like the first, though much more tired and, Legolas thought, pained.
"That won't work, brother. He can't hear you. Besides, the bow is buried under about a ton of debris."
"Hush yourself, Elladan, you need to rest. And he doesn't know that, does he? He can hear me, he is just too stubborn to obey! Legolas! Wake!!" the first voice demanded once more, and something shook his shoulder again.
Deciding that he had had enough, Legolas reluctantly left the white mist behind and struggled towards consciousness. Something the first voice had said had triggered something in his tired brain, a name … Estel …
He knew that name, he thought frowning, trying to ignore the voices that seemed to grow louder by the second.
The images of a dark haired young human appeared in his mind's eye, grey eyes sparkling as he called something. More and more images started to appear, swirling and mixing with each other, and Legolas began to remember that he indeed knew that man. Estel, Aragorn, Strider, his friend, foster son of Lord Elrond…
Before he could remember what Aragorn had to do with all this, Legolas heard the voice again, calling that name. His name, he realized with a start and winced inwardly as the pain in his body increased the more aware of his surroundings he became.
"Legolas, please … you must wake now! We cannot stay here forever! I cannot carry all of you, please, wake up now … If not, I am sure that my father will be most displeased to hear that he has to notify King Thranduil of your untimely demise. You know how much he hates to write such letters…" Elrohir's voice begged again.
'I'm trying, I'm trying!' Legolas thought and struggled to open his eyes. He remembered what the older twin had said about his bow a minute earlier and redoubled his efforts.
'Please, Elbereth, let him be joking! Not my bow…'
After a long time, he finally managed to pry open one eye, and waited patiently until it had adjusted to the low light that filtered through the dusty air before opening the second. The world swirled dangerously, and he had to take several deep breaths before his vision cleared and he looked up into the face of Elrohir who beamed down on him, sporting an enormous bruise that covered almost the whole area between chin and eye.
"I knew you could do it if you only wanted to, mellonamin," he declared, a happy grin on his face. He turned to the side and addressed his brother.
"See, brother, I told you so!"
The disembodied voice of Elladan reached the prince's ears, sounding relieved beyond measure.
"The bow," he said smugly, "I told you so, Elrohir. It works every time."
Legolas decided that he should end this before it developed into a full-fledged episode of twin bantering. He wasn't sure if his aching head could stand that.
"What … happened?" he managed to croak, surprised himself how weak his voice sounded.
Elrohir didn't answer as he produced a water skin and placed it at the prince's lips, raising his head with the other hand to help him drink.
"Easy, Legolas, not so much."
He took it away when his friend had drunk his fill and bedded his head back onto the folded cloak it had been resting on.
"You can't remember?" Elladan asked from his position on the floor, leaning back against a large boulder that had been part of the ceiling just a few hours ago.
Legolas shook his head, freezing instantly when a sharp pain lanced through his head. He closed his eyes and moaned softly, wondering for a moment if someone was sitting next to him and jamming a hot poker into his head, twisting it just for spite.
No, he decided after the pain had subsided so that he could think relatively clearly again, not even Elrohir would do that.
"Legolas?" he heard just mentioned twin ask, sharp worry in his voice.
With an effort, the fair haired elf opened his eyes again and attempted to smile at his friend, who, if anything, looked even more alarmed. Smiling wasn't such a good idea, then.
He reached up to touch his head, ignoring the pain that sudden motion was causing, frowning when his hand touched something soft. A bandage?
"I am fine, my friend," he said when he saw the worried looks Elrohir shot his brother, whom Legolas had just spied behind Elrohir to the left, "The entrance collapsed, didn't it?"
At that the younger twin broke into a huge grin.
"Yes, Legolas, one could say so," he chuckled. "It collapsed on you, to be precise. I spent several hours digging you out, since that sluggard over there was too busy sleeping to be much help to me!"
Elrohir's voice was light, but Legolas wasn't fooled for a second. The other elf was still badly shaken, and the fear he had felt for his brother and friend was still clearly visible in his eyes. He grabbed his friend's hand, pulling it back down and placing it gently on his bandaged chest.
"Stop that," he said sternly, "You will ruin my wonderful bandages. No moving until I allow it, understood?"
Legolas nodded, careful not to move his head too much, and asked himself dryly just when his friend had turned into Lord Elrond. He had even given him a milder version of the look.
"Will I live?" he asked seriously, looking up at the younger twin, his eyes twinkling.
Elrohir ignored his snickering brother and frowned.
"I'm afraid so," he said, his voice grave. "Well, at least you won't be able to sneak up on us for some time!"
Legolas laughed at that, but soon found that that wasn't such a good idea as the laughter turned into a coughing fit fairly quickly. Curling in on himself, he decided that he had at least two broken ribs, because right now he could feel the sharp edges grate into each other, sending bolts of pain through his chest.
Finally the coughing subsided, and he lay back, gasping for breath and trembling slightly. A second later he felt how a cold wet cloth was placed on his forehead and a slender hand touched his cheek. He pried open his eyelids that felt unnaturally heavy again and saw Elrohir's face hover over his, concern in his eyes.
"Try not to move too much, my friend," he told him, "You have broken at least three ribs, and I think one or two more a cracked. And that cut on your head was quite a nasty one as well. You woke up a lot later than Elladan."
Automatically the prince's eyes strayed to the sitting form of the older twin, who sported a bandage identical to his.
"I'm fine, Legolas, don't worry," Elladan told the other elf soothingly, "You are a lot worse off than me, believe me. We grew really concerned when you wouldn't wake up. And my dear brother isn't well either, even though he's trying to hide it," he added, sending his brother a scathing look that couldn't conceal the worry in his eyes.
Elrohir rolled his eyes and sat back on his haunches.
"I told you, brother, the shoulder is only bruised."
Elladan laughed carefully, one hand moving to his head to steady it should it decide to fall off in the process.
"Please, brother, don't try this look on me! Elbereth, 'only bruised'! I know a broken collarbone when I see one!"
The younger twin scowled, taking the cloth Legolas had identified now as part of the other elf's cloak and wetting it again, replacing it on the fair haired elf's forehead.
Legolas noticed that he didn't move his left arm as far as possible.
"Very well, perhaps it's cracked," Elrohir amended, cutting off his brother's response when he added, "I was lucky I was so close to the wall, a few inches to the right and I would have been crushed – as you were, dear brother."
"Well, somebody had to try and save the prince here from that little rockslide!" Elladan shot back, grinning at the two other elves.
Legolas returned the grin weakly and asked indignantly,
"'Little?' You call that 'little'? I would hate to see what you consider a 'large' one then … The humans have gone?" he added after a few seconds, recalling the last few moments he could remember clearly before everything disappeared in the chaos of dust and falling stones.
Elrohir nodded.
"We think so. We can't hear them anymore. Cornallar must have noticed something and sent them to trap us. With some success."
"Some success? That's a mild way of putting it, brother!" Elladan spoke up, his aching head making him grumpy, "We are trapped in a cave, with limited supplies and without the ghost of a change to dig us out in time to save ada or Estel. That's some success, I'd say!"
Only now did Legolas notice that what little light there was in the gloomy cave came from the faint glowing their elven bodies emitted in the dark.
"Trapped? Are you sure?" he asked as he fought to keep his eyes open when sleep once again caught up with him.
Elrohir smiled at his friend.
"Rest, mellonamin," he said softly, "Sleep for a few hours to regain your strength. We will talk about everything later. Elladan and I will make sure nothing unfriendly disturbs your dreams."
Legolas returned the smile, forcing his closing eyes open once more. It was a miracle humans could stand that, he though irritated, this eyes-sliding-closed-thing annoyed him to no end.
"Wake me in a few hours," he demanded, his silver-blue eyes fixing on the younger twin, "We need to get moving quickly … Aragorn needs us …"
The elven prince couldn't keep his eyes from closing again, and, this time, they stayed that way. Just before he lost consciousness again, he remembered that he had forgotten to ask Elladan about his bow. Desperately trying to fight his way back to awareness, he finally gave up and allowed himself to drift off into sleep, vowing to ask the older twin first of all the next time he awoke.
Elrohir watched the other elf's breathing even out as he fell asleep and shot his twin brother a look that clearly stated that he would wake the fair haired elf the exact moment he thought him to be strong enough, not a minute earlier.
"We will, Legolas, don't worry," he lied, before he moved over to the wall next to which they were resting, leaning back to watch over his brother and friend.
They needed to stop. If they didn't stop soon, he would drop out of the saddle and Donyc and his men could scratch what was left of him off the cliffs a few hundred feet down to his right.
If he hadn't been so exhausted, Aragorn would even have smiled at that thought. Everything that made the humans' lives a bit more uncomfortable was worth a thought.
'No,' he thought as he tried to keep his eyes open, 'That would be a bit excessive, I think. Besides, I wouldn't be here to see their faces, and what would be the fun part, then?'
At least he didn't have to steer his horse by himself this time, something which he actually welcomed for once, because he seriously doubted that he would have been able to anyway. In the morning his captors had decided that the horse that had been wounded during his escape attempt was strong enough to carry his weight, something which the ranger agreed with whole-heartedly, since he had lost quite a bit of weight in the past week. So he had been placed on the chestnut mare that had been tied to Nólad's horse in front of him with a length of rope and had been left to his own devices.
They had been pressing on at a very fast pace, the humans and the elf were clearly intent on getting off the mountains as quickly as possible, and, once again, the weather aided them in their endeavour with blue sky and not a single snow flake in sight.
They had stopped shortly only once at midday and already at that time Aragorn had felt ready to drop. His whole body hurt so much that he could barely keep in the moans of pain every time his horse stumbled slightly. He groaned inwardly and shifted in his saddle, causing his whole upper body to explode in pain. Wryly he wondered what hurt worse, his broken ribs and the bruises or the tears in his back. That was really hard to decide, he thought after a while, he would have to think about that for some time.
While he was still pondering this, the elf in front of him stopped his horse and turned round to the humans that were following him, smiling slightly.
"We have crossed the mountains, finally," he said, fixing his light grey eyes on Donyc who was riding just behind Aragorn, shooting the young human dark glares once in a while. "About a league away there is a small wood on a ledge, overlooking the Old Forest Road. We will camp there, if we post one or two guards we will see everything that comes our way for miles."
Aragorn lifted his head at Nólad's words, scanning his dark surroundings. Even though he couldn't see much since the sun had disappeared behind a mountain peak an hour or so ago, he recognized the landscape. He had been here quite often, and he knew the ledge the elf was speaking of; he had camped there frequently with his brothers, or his father, or Legolas when they had been travelling to the High Pass.
The ranger squeezed his eyes tightly shut when he thought of his friend and family. Even though he fought these felling, he was slowly losing hope that someone was coming for him at all. And even if someone was looking for him, what were their chances of finding him before it was too late and Cornallar killed him, or worse, killed him and his father as well?
'Slim to none,' he thought dryly as his horse began moving once again, the jolting movements making his head ache fiercely once more. Clenching his teeth, he concentrated his entire strength on the goal of staying on top of his horse for the rest of the journey. Yesterday it hadn't been so bad, because he had slept for most of the day. After the conversation with Nólad he had fought unconsciousness for as long as he had been able to, which had proven to be not too long, and had drifted in and out of consciousness the whole day.
In the morning he hadn't felt too bad, but that had changed soon, now that he had to compensate for every single unevenness or stumble of his horse himself, without the fair haired elf's arm that had kept him on the horse.
Just when he felt that not even his pride would be able to keep him in the saddle any longer, they stopped, and Aragorn realized that they had indeed reached the wood. A fact that he would have noticed a long time ago, if he hadn't been so busy keeping his eyes from sliding shut.
Nólad dismounted and grabbed the rope that connected his horse to that of the ranger, handing it to Addramyr who had just got off his horse as well.
Turning to him, he said,
"Here, get him off that horse before he falls off by himself."
Giving the man a stern glare until he lowered his eyes and nodded, the fair haired elf fixed his eyes on the human commander.
"If I could have a word with you, Master Human?" he asked politely and added, "The rest of you can pitch camp. We will stay here for the night and continue tomorrow morning. The horses need the rest."
His eyes straying to the swaying figure of the young ranger, he added to himself, 'And not only them.'
Donyc dismounted and nodded curtly, issuing some orders to his men and motioning for the elf to lead the way.
After the two had disappeared into the darkness, the men started to make camp, some of them moving off into the shrubbery to gather firewood, others preparing to care for the horses and unloading the beasts. Satisfied that everything went smoothly, Donyc's second-in-command turned back to the young human in front of him, who truly looked ready to drop any second now.
"Very well, ranger, you heard the elf. Get off!"
Aragorn groaned inwardly, remembering the last time somebody had used these words. That time he had ended up lying sprawled in the mud after a knife's hilt had connected with his temple. Wincing when he thought of what another blow would do to his hurting head, he hurried to comply – or at least he tried to.
Up to this time he had been of the opinion that it was a good thing that his body felt so frozen that he almost couldn't move it, which was not surprising when one considered that he no longer wore a shirt beneath his leather overcoat. The cold seemed to comfortably numb his back and hands that hurt from being locked in one and the same position behind his back for three days now, because his captors had stayed true to their word and hadn't untied him for a second after his escape attempt.
'Well, now that fact is decidedly annoying,' Aragorn decided grumpily as he tried to swing his left leg over the horse's head to dismount, only to find that he couldn't move any of his extremities more than a few inches. Swallowing nervously when he looked down into Addramyr's impatient face, he tried again, once more without success.
The dark blonde human looked up at him, scowling.
"Are you trying to make this difficult again, boy?" he asked and grasped Aragorn's right arm, preparing to pull him off his horse.
The young ranger moaned in pain when the arrow wound in his shoulder flared to life and his chest protested that sudden movement vehemently. Addramyr paid him no heed and, with the help of another man, dragged Aragorn off the horse and into the direction the camp was being made right now. The younger human desperately tried to get his feet under him to take the strain off his arms, but the frozen limbs wouldn't cooperate and so he was hauled across the grass to one of the trees.
While the other man left again to get some rope, Addramyr cruelly pressed the other's injured back against the trunk, grinning as that action elicited another soft moan of pain from the ranger. Aragorn struggled to open his eyes and gave the other man a fiery glare that promised retribution in case he ever got out of this.
"You know, ranger, normally I think that Donyc overdoes it a bit from time to time, but this time I agree whole-heartedly: It will be a pleasure to see you broken," the blonde human said in a friendly tone of voice, his ire rising as he watched the unbroken fire in the younger human's gaze.
Aragorn licked his dry lips and said, his gleaming eyes not leaving the other's face,
"I wouldn't count on that if I were you, saurar."
Addramyr narrowed his eyes and before Aragorn could even comprehend what was happening, a fist connected with his cheek and slammed his head against the tree. While he waited for the pain and nausea to die down, Aragorn decided that his family had been right when they had told him two things.
First, that one of these days he would get into real trouble because he couldn't keep his mouth shut.
And second, as Elrond had told him so many times when he had struggled with Quenya grammar as a very young boy, you needn't speak another language to understand what was being said; it was the tone of voice that mattered.
'Obviously Addramyr agrees with him on that,' he thought dazedly as he watched the angry human in front of him who was massaging his aching knuckles with his left.
He wondered for an irrational moment if his body would give in before their hands hurt them too much for them to hit him anymore or if they would be forced to stop to let their hands heal a bit. He had to grin inwardly when he imagined the men with their hands covered in bandages, before the rational part of his mind helpfully supplied the fact that there were the elves as well, after all. Their hands wouldn't be grazed so quickly.
Donyc's second-in-command interrupted that rather fascinating contemplation as he grabbed the ranger's overcoat, pulling him closer.
"And I would hold my tongue if I were you, ranger," he growled, "And if I hear another word of elf speech again, you will regret it, believe me."
The other man chose just this moment to return with a length of coiled rope under his arm, and so Aragorn was spared an answer, for which he was rather thankful. He really didn't want to antagonize the man further. When they were finished tying him to the tree, Addramyr gave the ropes one last tug, grinning as he saw the grimace of pain flash across his captive's face, and stood, giving him a mock bow.
"Sweet dreams, ranger," he said teasingly and walked off, the other human on his heels.
Aragorn let his head fall back against the tree and closed his eyes.
'If they go on like this, they will have slapped all the wits I have still left out of me before this is over,' he thought dryly. 'But, according to Elrohir, that's not too much anyway.'
Now that he was in fact resting, he found that he couldn't sleep. Worried thoughts and unconnected considerations chased themselves through his brain, so was the thought of what was happening to his father right now and if he worried for him as much as he did closely followed by a plan where he would go should he ever managed to escape so he wouldn't have to lay eyes onto another tree in his lifetime.
Frowning slightly, he listened to the sounds the men were making while setting up camp and decided that his rather unstable state of mind was to blame on the slight infection that had set in. Nólad had told him something about it yesterday evening when he had checked his wounds, but since he had only been half-awake then, he couldn't remember what exactly that had been. He hadn't sounded too concerned though, but he never did, and why should the elf worry for him in the first place?
With difficulty Aragorn opened his eyes again when he heard someone approach, and before his lids had even opened half way, he knew that it was Seobryn. The boy really seemed to step on every single twig he could find, the young ranger decided with a grin.
Seobryn came closer, crouching down in front of him.
"You are still awake?"
Aragorn almost chuckled at that, only the thought of what his ribs would say about that kept him from doing so.
"Yes, I am," he replied softly, giving the boy a smile.
"That's good to see. I was afraid you would never wake after … that," the young man replied and averted his eyes.
"The elf sent me," he added in a way of explanation, producing some bread and a water skin.
He uncorked it and looked up at the bound human uncertainly.
"I cannot untie you or anything, but…"
Aragorn eyed him warily. He didn't like the idea of being fed at all, but since he hadn't eaten anything for longer than he could remember, he was more than ready put up with it in order to finally get some food. Besides, he was much too exhausted to be in mood to argue, and if he had to be fed by someone, he was glad it was Seobryn.
"I would be most thankful for your help," he said, inclining his head.
Seobryn nodded, obviously relieved, and sooner than anyone would have thought possible the bread had disappeared and the water skin was all but empty.
"Thank you," Aragorn said quietly, leaning back against the trunk again, "I had almost forgotten what food looks like."
The younger man looked down guiltily.
"I'm sorry, but there is nothing more I can bring you. Donyc's orders…"
The ranger leaned forward again, looking hard at the boy.
"Then why are you following them? Is it because of the money? You are not like the rest of your companions, you have a kind heart, contrary to them. Where are your parents?"
Seobryn lifted his head and looked at him with serious eyes, suddenly looking older than usual.
"They are dead. They died when orcs attacked our village seven years ago. It is … it was located to the south, between the Brandywine and the Greyflood River. There were only three survivors."
"I am sorry for your loss," Aragorn said after a small pause. "I know what it feels like to lose your parents. Mine died as well when I was very young. But didn't you have anyone to take you in, family or friends of your parents?"
Seobryn laughed, but the mirth didn't reach his eyes.
"Oh, yes, I did. Addramyr is my uncle."
The young ranger lowered his head and nodded slowly. That made sense.
"I see," he said softly and added after a while, "I am sorry."
"Yes, ranger, so am I. Most of the time I feel very sorry for myself, but I have lived long enough to understand that we cannot change the lot fate has chosen for you, so I try to make the best of it."
"Why don't you leave? Go and start a new life?"
Seobryn laughed again, embittered this time.
"And who would take me in? I haven't learned anything, I wouldn't be able to earn my living. Besides," his voice dropped to a whisper and looked behind him to make sure no one overheard their conversation, "My uncle is not an understanding man. He would feel betrayed and … and you don't want to see him when he feels betrayed, ranger."
Aragorn grimaced, remembering the 'conversation' he had had only a few minutes ago with Addramyr himself.
"No, I suppose not."
"So I stay and feel sorry, for myself and for others," the young man concluded, rising to his feet to leave. Just before he turned and walked away, Aragorn heard him whisper, "I have no other choice."
The ranger closed his eyes and relaxed as best as he could with his arms behind him and tied to a tree, too tired and in too much pain to argue with the boy.
Just before sleep finally claimed him, he smiled sarcastically, realizing that he was by far not the only person here who found himself caught in a situation he didn't want to be in.
When Legolas woke the next time, he felt a lot better than a few hours ago. But, he thought wryly as he wondered if he should try to open his eyes, that wasn't really hard, since that time he had felt as if a dozen trolls had tried to tenderize him for their evening meal by beating him repeatedly against a large tree trunk.
'No,' he decided, stifling a moan when he tried to move, 'I feel definitely better. It were only half a dozen trolls, I think.'
When he had just finished that thought, an impossible loud voice spoke up to his left.
"Good morning, my prince!"
Legolas groaned and stilled his movements, his hands straying to his hurting head. Why did Elrohir have to scream?
"It is night, brother," another voice noted dryly, although thankfully a lot softer.
"It was only a manner of speaking, Elladan," his twin muttered in an annoyed tone of voice, placing a cool hand on his friend's forehead.
"Legolas? Are you awake? We need to leave; perhaps one of these tunnels will lead us out and we can follow ada and the others."
The elven prince opened his eyes and fixed his tired silver-blue gaze on the face of his friend that came into view after blurring slightly once. Wordlessly he nodded and stretched out a hand, which Elrohir took carefully, pulling him into a sitting position. Fighting against the pain and nausea that washed over him and desperately wishing that the room would stop spinning, Legolas said softly,
"They will not."
"Pardon me?" Elladan asked, carefully moving closer to them, leaning back against the wall, his face pale.
"They will not lead us out," the fair haired elf explained, his voice stronger now that his body had accepted the fact that he wasn't going to listen to its complaints.
"As I said, I have been here before, and the only two tunnels that would have led us back out collapsed a few centuries ago."
The twins looked at him with identical looks of horror that made the prince chuckle.
"And what, pray tell, is so funny about our predicament?" Elrohir asked astonished, eyeing his friend for signs that he might have been hit harder on the head than he had first thought. "I don't know about you wood-elves, but in Rivendell we do not enjoy being trapped in caves for any period of time!"
Legolas stopped chuckling, even if more for the sake of his fiercely protesting ribs.
"You are right, mellonamin, forgive me. I should have said: There is no way out on this side of the mountains."
At that the twins' expressions grew even more horror-stricken than before, something which he had thought hardly possible.
Elrohir narrowed his eyes and sent the fair haired elf a suspicious glance.
"What do you mean, on 'this side'?" he asked.
Legolas shrugged indifferently.
"Oh, well, I mean that there is a tunnel leading under the mountains to the other side. It should take us only two days to reach the eastern parts of the Misty Mountains."
Elladan stared at him wide-eyed.
"'Only two days'??" he repeated faintly. "Ah well, that's not too bad I guess…"
Elrohir looked at both of them as if they had just announced that they had decided to marry a pair of dwarf maidens.
"Are both of you insane? Two days?? How do you know that anyway, if I may ask?"
Legolas eased himself up carefully, settling down next to the older twin.
"I told you that I have been in here before, haven't I? Well, when I was about, well, I think 150 years old, I and a few of my friend had a little argument. One thing led to another, and in the end Glónduil dared me to come here and travel through Nogrodrim, from east to west. The other entrance is located at the very foot of the mountains, just a mile or so to north of the point where the Road climbs up the slopes."
"And you did it?" the younger twin exclaimed incredulously.
The fair haired prince had at least the decency to look a bit sheepish.
"Well, as I said, I was young, and extremely foolish."
"'Out of your mind' might be the term you are looking for," Elrohir muttered under his breath.
Legolas ignored him and continued.
"Well, to spare you the whole tale, I made it in two days. Those were the two longest and darkest days in my whole life, and I have vowed never to do it again. Never. I very nearly died in here, and I promised myself I would never again stay underground for longer than a few hours. I came out again, but frankly, I would not like to test the mountains for a second time."
"Do we have another option?" Elladan asked carefully, dreading the answer.
His friend looked shortly at the jumble of boulders and rocks that blocked the space where the entrance had been a few hours earlier and lowered his head.
"Not that I can see," he whispered softly, claustrophobic memories washing over him.
The twins looked at each other, coming to a silent agreement quickly. After all, Legolas was right. They didn't have any other choice if they wanted to cross the mountains in time.
"Very well, we will follow your lead then," Elladan said and added, when the other elf's head shot up in surprise, "You are the only one who has ever been in here, or in such a position at all, mellonamin. During all our visits to grandmother and grandfather we have never travelled through Moria, not even before the dwarves deserted it, something which they should have done a long time ago, if you ask me. And, to be honest, I never wanted to see the inside of a mine, and I wouldn't have done it for a dare if you had promised me all the mithril in the world."
Legolas studied his friend's solemn face for a moment before he nodded his agreement.
"As you wish," he said. "But please, remember, it's been more than two thousand years since I have set foot in here, and I have done all I could to forget those two days – and the following years during which my father refused to let me leave the palace."
He grinned at the brothers who looked a bit more at ease now that they knew they wouldn't have to spend the rest of their days on Arda wandering through a vast cave system.
Turning seriously quite quickly, he asked,
"What about our supplies? What do we still have left?"
Elrohir shrugged, frowning as he counted on his fingers.
"Limited water and supplies, but for two or three days it should be enough. Some healing herbs from Elladan's and my packs, two blankets, no spare clothes and no wood. The weapons we had with us and, oh yes, and your horse."
"My horse?" Legolas asked happily, frowning when he started to remember something. Something which was connected with weapons …
"Yes, I don't know how it managed to survive either. I guess it's just as stubborn as its master."
The elven prince's frown deepened when he remembered what had been irking him since he had awoken.
"My bow," he said, watching the faces of the two dark haired elves closely, "Where is it?"
Elladan looked at him accusingly.
"You were awake!"
"No, not really," Legolas corrected impatiently, "You weren't serious when you said it was buried, were you? Were you??"
Elrohir placed a comforting hand on the prince's shoulder, his bruised face twitching slightly.
"I'm sorry, my friend. It was buried with you and I couldn't find it."
"It has found a worthy end, my friend," the older twin chimed in, trying to keep himself from laughing, "In the hour of need it was lost to us, far too early, yes, but we will honour its memory and will forever keep it in our hearts. Never was there a stronger and more beautiful bow! Alas, why was it taken from us…"
At this point Legolas had got to his feet and was trying – though swaying precariously - to push past the now snickering elf's brother to get to Elladan, anger on his face, but his eyes were twinkling playfully.
"Careful, son of Elrond. You don't know what you're talking about."
Elladan held up his hands, laughing helplessly.
"Peace, Legolas! I am sorry, my friend. I truly am. I will gladly entrust you with my own bow for the time being. It's the only one we've got left anyway; Elrohir's is broken as well."
Legolas glowered at the laughing twins, stifling his own laughter.
"Very well then. If you two have calmed down, I would like to leave now. I will be looking after my horse, if you two feel strong enough to follow me, please feel free to do so."
He turned and walked deeper into the caves, with one hand still grasping the stone wall for support as his body protested against the sudden movement. Suppressing a shudder of fear that raced through him when he thought of the journey that lay ahead of him, he told himself firmly to concentrate. The twins trusted him to find their way out of here, and if they did, they would even have a small head start on Lord Elrond and the others.
'Ilúvatar, the things I do for that human,' he grumbled in mock exasperation as he rounded a bend and looked around for his horse, stopping shortly to regain his breath and give the cave the opportunity to stop spinning, 'He will wish I left him there once I catch up with them!'
TBC...
mellonamin - my friend
ada - father (daddy)
saurar - foul one
*giggles* I very nearly built in a Darth Vader moment here (something which you can blame on Zam, too! *g*), something like Donyc as Seobryn's father ("Seobryn... *rattling breath* ... I am your father!"), at which point the poor boy would probably have thrown himself off the next tree! *g*
Well, I don't feel so well right now, I think I'll just go to bed and die. You can express your condolences by submitting a nice little review, I'm sure my family will be touched. Besides, they MIGHT revive me so I can post the next bit soon. *coughs and groans* I doubt it, though...
Additional A/N:
Arwen-Evenstar - Yeah, thanks, but somehow I have the sneaking suspicion that C&S are doing something similar in their newest story... *mumbles under her breath* It's not fair... Well, I'm glad you like Legolas torture as well, there is coming quite a lot in the next few chapters... *evil grin*
Evil Strasse - I don't see why you are trying to learn it, it's an ugly and hard language to learn. Besides, it's spoken in only three countries, well perhaps in a few more, but only by minorities then. So why bother? But I'm impressed! As I said, it's not easy to learn - or so I've heard... *g* You don't stink at reviews!*pats her back* It is _always_ nice to hear what people think. Always. *nods head adamantly* Thanks for reviewing!
AngelsofLight - *smiles nervously* I KNEW you knew that it was Aragorn's blood, I was just a bit confused, that's all... *g* Hey, and if you are born to say useless things, you have great company: Look at Legolas in TTT: Mr.Stating-the-obvious if there ever was one!! *runs away from angry Legolas fans* Hey!!! It's the truth!! *hugs her back* I'm glad you like it! *rereads review* You want me to burn your school? Uhm, okay, no problem, I'll send my balrog, he loves burning down stuff...
Nightshade - Don't worry, I won't stop now! I couldn't - it's just the question how long it will take me to get the chapters out, that's all. Thanks for the review!!
TrustingFriendship - Well, I don't actually enjoy inflicting pain one them, I only ... do?? Oh God, I need help!! *g* As I said, I will see what I can do about the "Make them suffer"-bit. But I agree with you, Cornallar and Donyc deserve to die a most horrible death. MOST horrible...
Firnsarnien - *looks at Firnsarnien with her head between her knees* Oh, gosh, I had no idea you would react like that!!! Well, I hurried with the chapter, I really did, I'm just kinda busy right now, lots to do... Yeah, well, Nólad is probably not a happy elf right now, I don't think he'll get any happier though... *evil cackle* If you want to comfort our favourite elven prince, you may hug him - carefully!! Really, if his head falls off it's your fault!!! *g* Thanks so much for the long review!!
Kirsten - Evil? Me?? You must confuse me with someone else... *g* I'm glad you enjoy it, hope you'll like the rest as well. Thanks for reviewing!
Ripki - *giggles* A box of chocolates? Careful then, you never know what you're gonna get next... *g* *looks around triumphantly* Exactly!!! That's just what I thought! Why does poor Elrond always have to stay at home and worry? No, this time _they_ worry about _him_, that's only fair... Well, I have thought about a sequel or something, but I only have a vague idea. Perhaps I'll have enough time to think about it when I'm in England. We'll see... Thanks for the great review!!
Miss Undastood - *hands her a new pen* Sorry. Here you are, more Seobryn, a whole lot of Seobryn in fact - don't kill me please?? *grins happily* I'm glad someone likes my sarcasm... Thanks!! *hugs her back*
ThE iNsAnE oNe - Yeah, poor boys ... *gives struggling elves and human a big hug* Where ... *grabs chainsaw again and hisses* ... is your story?? Where?? I need it, it's mine, my own, my precious!! *hits herself over head* God, the Gollumitis again... *g*
Marbienl - *whines* First TiO, now you!! Where is your story then? Post it, now!!! *grins* I'm glad you like it, even the torture, which I found very hard to write. Well, and Legolas will save him, but that's still three or four chapters in the future, I'm afraid... Thanks so much for the great review!!
Ciria - 40 chapters? That would be terrible!! I absolutely refuse to out up with them for much longer, they are quite annoying... *g* So, no more than 22 chapters, I think...HP??? Yeah, sure I've read all four parts, but where is the connection? Is there a collapsing cave? *shrugs* I don't think so... Nólad-ish?? *giggles* Well, you really love him, don't you? Sorry, there's not much more of him in this chappie, but he's in the next! Promise!
Sue - Well, I hope you liked the rest as well! Thanks a lot for letting me know!!
Jenny - *shakes head* I am not cruel. I'm only a tiny bit sadistic ... hey, wait a sec, isn't that worse?? *g* Thanks for the review, and indeed, both of them have a knack of manoeuvering themselves into horrible situations... *g*
Acacia - *bows* Yes, Legolas is quite smart, isn't he?? *pats his head* Cute little elfsie... You don't want more Legolas? Uhm, are you ill or something? I've certainly never heard that before... 'Your second favourite ranger'? Who is your favourite then?? And don't worry, he will get back to his ada, in the end - which is still a few chapters away, sorry... *g*
LeggyLover711 - Well, uhm ... I practice?? *evil cackle* I update as fast as posible, really!! Thanks for reviewing!!
Aralondwen - *blushes* Owww, thank you... *grins evilly* 'The voices', huh? I know exactly what you speak of, mate, believe me!! *g*
Mouse - *desperately jumping up to get to the M&Ms* Gimme that!!! See, I updated, they're MINE now!! *grabs bucket and runs off* Mhahahaha, all mine!!!! Yeah, I'm sorry about the cliffy (well, not really! *g*), but it's so much fun writing them!!! *starts eating M&Ms* You want some? Yes? Well, sorry, but they are mine!! Mhahaha!!
Kaeera - *zerrt an Kaeera* Lass - ihn - los - sonst - werd - ich - gewalttaetig!!! Keine Sorge, deinem Elrohir passiert schon nix - nichts ernstes, auf jeden Fall... *g* Tja, in der Zukunft gibt es noch mehr Elrond-starrt-Entfuehrer-an-Szenen, was soll der arme denn auch anderes machen?? Na ja, hab deine neue Geschichte schon gesehen, gehe gleich hiernach noch hin und gucke sie mir an - wenn mein Koerper bis dahin beschlossen hat, nicht auf der Stelle den Geist aufzugeben! *schnueff*
Reginabean - *walks up to the cliff, shaking her head* You and cliffs!! Really!! I _told_ it wasn't a good idea to hand out pamphlets here, but would you listen? No!! *looks down on her* Well, I'm not pulling you up again... *g*
Aurienia - Never fear, I would never kill the dear Prince of Mirkwood! I am too afraid of what the countless fangirls would do to me... *grins* Yes, Elrond is quite ... upset, I'm afraid... but unfortunately, Cornallar is too insane to do what a normal person would and RUN AWAY! Idiot... *looks at her strangely* Gorillas which will infect me with deadly fleas ... okay ... if you say so ... *g* *takes some popcorn* Thanks!! I'm glad you like it so much!! *huggles her*
Lina - *looks at Éomer, grinning nervously* Oh no, I'd never do _anything_ to our Estel, he'll be fine, honestly ... *crosses fingers behind her back* Don't you trust me?? Well, you see, nothing bad happened to Estel, he just got banged up a bit - happens all the time, don't ask me why ... *huggles Lina* Don't worry! You know I'd never permanently harm our baby!!
Zam - SEE?? The dwarf maidens were for you!! Because your story which you DON'T UPDATE ANYMORE inspired me to write this!! You have to update!! *looks at Lina threateningly* That goes for you, too!! *shrieks indignantly* PORNALLAR?? I _told_ you not to use that name again, didn't I?? Well, that's enough, I've just sent my warg after you, that'll teach you!! *giggles* Raping the prince? Well, I suppose there's a law against that as well... Well, I hope to see the Lina-Aragorn-Soap-Opera soon!! I'll even review!!
Analia - *blushes* Thanks so much for your kind words! I hope you'll enjoy the rest as well!! *looks at pointy objects* Don't even think about it!! I have a balrog and a warg which protect me!!
Alexa - *nods* Yes, poor elfling... He doesn't like caves much, does he?? *pats her back* That's it, breathe in ... breathe out ... breathe in ... Don't worry, the twins WILL help him. Well, of course I listen to you guys! I'm a review-addict, so I have to keep you happy! Well, a bit at least... LOL, your new words are great! 'Stupiperful', that's something... *g*
Cestari - Well, of course I say review in every chapter! They're what keeps me going, I _need_ them!! *hastily* Don't worry, they won't get captured, you can come down now ... come on, there's no need to do this ... *under her breath* Well, at least not now... I'm not sure yet who'll kill whom, but the evil ones will die!! *shakes fist* They deserve it!!
E - *innocent smile* No, never.... Hurt the twins or Legolas? Me?? Well, I'm sorry they are still alive, but it would be kind of anticlimatic if they all just dropped dead, wouldn't it? Don't worry, I will not stop updating, it's only the question of how much time I have at my hands, which is never enough, I can assure you... *g*
Mimi Fox - Don't worry, I would _never_ kill any of them!! Really!! I wouldn't dare... Thanks for the review!!
Shakiya - *grins happpily* Thanks! I hope you enjoyed the rest as well!!
ManuKu/Salara - So. Ihr glaubt also, ihr haettet meinen Balrog entfuehrt?! Glaubt ihr wirklich, ich waere so nachlaessig mit meinem Haustier? Haltet ihr mich wirklich fuer so dumm, dass ich solche Versuche nicht vorauszusehen wuesste?? Ich habe nicht hunderte von Todesdrohungen erhalten, um mich dann auf die faule Haut zu legen und nichts zu tun!! Guckt ihr doch noch einmal nach, ihr beiden Moechtegern-Kidnapper! (Hah, Cornallar wuerde sich ueber euch Amateure totlachen!!) Ist euch nicht aufgefallen, dass Stan ein wenig reglos ist? Irgendwie ausgestopft wirkt? Leblos? Kalt? Kein Feuer hat? Tja, ihr beiden, dass liegt daran, dass er ausgestopft IST!! Das, was ihr entfuehrt habt, ist nur 'Bålrog', die neuste Kuschelpuppe von Ikea, komplett mit Tongeraet und Nebelmaschine fuer Sound- und Raucheffekte!! Mhahahahah, wieder einmal bin ich siegreich!!! LOL, ich habe mich totgelacht!! Ich hoffe, ihr mochtet es trotzdem und habt viele schoene Ideen fuer neue Stories gesammelt... *g*
Alilacia - Ohhhh, only two hours' sleep, poor you... *huggles Alilacia* Well, *shrugs* it's not a secret, I guess. My friends are living in Essex, just half an hour to both Cambridge and London. It's great there, beautiful and close to the Sea as well. *sighs* I love the Sea... LOL, well, I think there are a lot more people who would love to get their hands on Cornallar or Donyc! Yeah well, I'm beginning to think that wargs aren't as ferocious as they're said to be. Fred sr. (TiO kept Fre jr.) is a danger only to broccoli... *shrugs* Well, better than nothing, I guess...
Angel - LOL, Saruman and Sauron!! That's just plain ... disgusting!!! Well, don't worry, I will not kill any of your babies!! Really! Yeah, okay, perhaps they get banged up a bit, but nothing more... Ohh, poor you!! Lost the story! I know how very frustrating this can be! But I'm glad you found it again... I'll have to stopa t your port? What id I take the PLANE, then??? *evil grin*
Stasia - *grins* I know. Reviews are just the most perfect things in the world!! Well, I'm sorry, but they can't hear you! I can't have you warn them, it would be no fun at all... *evil grin* LOL, Estel is safe? Well, that's another way of putting it... *hands Stasia a big cookie* Well done! You are only the second person to notice!! Some of them are indeed chess terms, but, bzw, I don't play chess either, not much anyway. I have to look it up... Lack-of-storyitis?? Well, I'll do my best to prevent any such ailments... *g* Thanks for your great review, once again!
Imbefaniel - Yeah, I read LOTR, The Hobbit and The Silmarillion in English, too. That's the reason why I'm writing this in English and not in German, I just cannot stand the German terms! I watched LOTR once (out of 14 times) in German, and I was laughing so hard that they very nearly threw me out! Hope your compurer is better now!! Thanks for reviewing!
Bella - Okay - here you go! That was fast, wasn't it? We wouldn't want your classwork to suffer, after all... *g* Besides, I have the same problems with my professors - they never understand what I'm talking about... Hope you'll enjoy this as well!
Tbiris - Yeah, that's what I have been trying to tell him as well, but would he listen? NO!! Just read on, most of it will be explained soon! Thanks for reviewing!!
Larus - LOL! I have no idea what you're talking about though, I did not blackmail anybody! All I did was make a few comments here and a little promise there - is that blackmail? Yes? Ah well, okay then... *g* And don't worry, you have succeeded in making me blush! Thank you soooooo very much for saying all the nice things you just did! *huggles her* AEFAE?? LOL, what is it with you people?! Sometimes I think you have to have acronyms for everything!! Well, thanks again, and I'm very much looking forward to reading your next review!!
God, I feel awful, really awful ... I have to go now before my mother drags me off to bed, she's waiting right now with camomile tea. *grimaces in disgust* Ack! I hate that tea!*whines* Well, thank you for the great reviews, I'd hug you, but I think I'd infect you too, so I'll just go to bed...
A/N:
*looks at pointy objects she is being threatened with*
Uhm, well, okay, I think you've made your point!! I will try to finish the story before I leave, but I can't make any promises. But right now it looks as if there are going to be about 21 chapters, so I should be able to finish it. Emphasis on 'should'... *g*
*grins*
The reviews seem to have focused on a new topic now, which could be summarized as "Make them pay!!". Well, I'll see what I can do!!! *evil grin*
Very well, we've arrived at chapter 15, which is a miracle in itself, and quite surprising really, since I told my mother in the beginning "Nooooo, it will definitely _not_ have more than twelve chapters, don't worry, I will stop writing this 'weird' story soon..."
Ah well, it is not MY fault when they just refuse to do what I say and start running into collapsing caves and stuff like that... *g*
Have fun and a if you'd submit a review it would make me extraordinarily happy!!
Oh, and ZAM KENOBI: The dwarf maidens are for you!!! *g*
Chapter 15
Legolas was floating in a vast sea of white mist, or that was the closest he got to describing it later. A more reasonable part of his brain wondered briefly how it was possible to float on mist no matter what colour, but it soon fell silent again as his mind lost itself in the wonderful sense of peace that seemed to fill his whole being. There was no pain, no fears, only the faint memory of something that had happened not so long ago and that had appeared to be important. Ignoring that small flaw in the perfect happiness he was experiencing, the prince became aware after what felt like an eternity that some noises that seemed to come from a very long way away were beginning to invade his consciousness.
He tried to take no notice of it, and that worked quite well for a while. But soon, the noises became more persistent, and he felt as if someone was tugging on his arm, which was very curious, for he was sure that he was alone in the mist. But then again, it was hard to see anything clearly in here, so it could be possible that someone else was here, he reasoned.
Puzzled, he tried to concentrate on the faint sounds that were beginning to register in his comfortably numb brain.
"Legolas … wake … you … please …"
He grimaced mentally, wondering who it was that was calling out that name. And who it was he was talking about.
'Well,' he decided, trying to sink back into the comfortable white mist, '"Legolas" should really wake up before the voice start yelling again.'
He wasn't sure why, but he knew that he didn't want to wake up himself. No, it was much nicer to stay here and float on the beautiful white mist.
He groaned as the voice grew louder, and this time Legolas could hear the worry in it.
"Legolas, please … wake up now, mellonamin. Come on, open your eyes, you can do it! Stop being so stubborn and wake up!"
The voice sounded annoyed now, something which the fair haired prince could understand only too well. Whoever that Legolas person was, he should really get up now, he decided. It was a mystery to him how he could still be asleep with all this racket that was going on. The tugging increased, and for the first time something else penetrated the shell that enveloped him: Pain. He groaned again. Couldn't this person just leave him alone?
"My friend, please … you have to wake! I will not explain to Estel that you, you of all people, died in a cave-in! Come on, you stupid wood-elf, get up! I grow tired of this!" the voice spoke in an exasperated tone of voice, but Legolas was sure he could hear it tremble slightly.
"If you do not open your eyes now, I will … burn your bow! Don't think I wouldn't!"
Another voice spoke up which sounded very much like the first, though much more tired and, Legolas thought, pained.
"That won't work, brother. He can't hear you. Besides, the bow is buried under about a ton of debris."
"Hush yourself, Elladan, you need to rest. And he doesn't know that, does he? He can hear me, he is just too stubborn to obey! Legolas! Wake!!" the first voice demanded once more, and something shook his shoulder again.
Deciding that he had had enough, Legolas reluctantly left the white mist behind and struggled towards consciousness. Something the first voice had said had triggered something in his tired brain, a name … Estel …
He knew that name, he thought frowning, trying to ignore the voices that seemed to grow louder by the second.
The images of a dark haired young human appeared in his mind's eye, grey eyes sparkling as he called something. More and more images started to appear, swirling and mixing with each other, and Legolas began to remember that he indeed knew that man. Estel, Aragorn, Strider, his friend, foster son of Lord Elrond…
Before he could remember what Aragorn had to do with all this, Legolas heard the voice again, calling that name. His name, he realized with a start and winced inwardly as the pain in his body increased the more aware of his surroundings he became.
"Legolas, please … you must wake now! We cannot stay here forever! I cannot carry all of you, please, wake up now … If not, I am sure that my father will be most displeased to hear that he has to notify King Thranduil of your untimely demise. You know how much he hates to write such letters…" Elrohir's voice begged again.
'I'm trying, I'm trying!' Legolas thought and struggled to open his eyes. He remembered what the older twin had said about his bow a minute earlier and redoubled his efforts.
'Please, Elbereth, let him be joking! Not my bow…'
After a long time, he finally managed to pry open one eye, and waited patiently until it had adjusted to the low light that filtered through the dusty air before opening the second. The world swirled dangerously, and he had to take several deep breaths before his vision cleared and he looked up into the face of Elrohir who beamed down on him, sporting an enormous bruise that covered almost the whole area between chin and eye.
"I knew you could do it if you only wanted to, mellonamin," he declared, a happy grin on his face. He turned to the side and addressed his brother.
"See, brother, I told you so!"
The disembodied voice of Elladan reached the prince's ears, sounding relieved beyond measure.
"The bow," he said smugly, "I told you so, Elrohir. It works every time."
Legolas decided that he should end this before it developed into a full-fledged episode of twin bantering. He wasn't sure if his aching head could stand that.
"What … happened?" he managed to croak, surprised himself how weak his voice sounded.
Elrohir didn't answer as he produced a water skin and placed it at the prince's lips, raising his head with the other hand to help him drink.
"Easy, Legolas, not so much."
He took it away when his friend had drunk his fill and bedded his head back onto the folded cloak it had been resting on.
"You can't remember?" Elladan asked from his position on the floor, leaning back against a large boulder that had been part of the ceiling just a few hours ago.
Legolas shook his head, freezing instantly when a sharp pain lanced through his head. He closed his eyes and moaned softly, wondering for a moment if someone was sitting next to him and jamming a hot poker into his head, twisting it just for spite.
No, he decided after the pain had subsided so that he could think relatively clearly again, not even Elrohir would do that.
"Legolas?" he heard just mentioned twin ask, sharp worry in his voice.
With an effort, the fair haired elf opened his eyes again and attempted to smile at his friend, who, if anything, looked even more alarmed. Smiling wasn't such a good idea, then.
He reached up to touch his head, ignoring the pain that sudden motion was causing, frowning when his hand touched something soft. A bandage?
"I am fine, my friend," he said when he saw the worried looks Elrohir shot his brother, whom Legolas had just spied behind Elrohir to the left, "The entrance collapsed, didn't it?"
At that the younger twin broke into a huge grin.
"Yes, Legolas, one could say so," he chuckled. "It collapsed on you, to be precise. I spent several hours digging you out, since that sluggard over there was too busy sleeping to be much help to me!"
Elrohir's voice was light, but Legolas wasn't fooled for a second. The other elf was still badly shaken, and the fear he had felt for his brother and friend was still clearly visible in his eyes. He grabbed his friend's hand, pulling it back down and placing it gently on his bandaged chest.
"Stop that," he said sternly, "You will ruin my wonderful bandages. No moving until I allow it, understood?"
Legolas nodded, careful not to move his head too much, and asked himself dryly just when his friend had turned into Lord Elrond. He had even given him a milder version of the look.
"Will I live?" he asked seriously, looking up at the younger twin, his eyes twinkling.
Elrohir ignored his snickering brother and frowned.
"I'm afraid so," he said, his voice grave. "Well, at least you won't be able to sneak up on us for some time!"
Legolas laughed at that, but soon found that that wasn't such a good idea as the laughter turned into a coughing fit fairly quickly. Curling in on himself, he decided that he had at least two broken ribs, because right now he could feel the sharp edges grate into each other, sending bolts of pain through his chest.
Finally the coughing subsided, and he lay back, gasping for breath and trembling slightly. A second later he felt how a cold wet cloth was placed on his forehead and a slender hand touched his cheek. He pried open his eyelids that felt unnaturally heavy again and saw Elrohir's face hover over his, concern in his eyes.
"Try not to move too much, my friend," he told him, "You have broken at least three ribs, and I think one or two more a cracked. And that cut on your head was quite a nasty one as well. You woke up a lot later than Elladan."
Automatically the prince's eyes strayed to the sitting form of the older twin, who sported a bandage identical to his.
"I'm fine, Legolas, don't worry," Elladan told the other elf soothingly, "You are a lot worse off than me, believe me. We grew really concerned when you wouldn't wake up. And my dear brother isn't well either, even though he's trying to hide it," he added, sending his brother a scathing look that couldn't conceal the worry in his eyes.
Elrohir rolled his eyes and sat back on his haunches.
"I told you, brother, the shoulder is only bruised."
Elladan laughed carefully, one hand moving to his head to steady it should it decide to fall off in the process.
"Please, brother, don't try this look on me! Elbereth, 'only bruised'! I know a broken collarbone when I see one!"
The younger twin scowled, taking the cloth Legolas had identified now as part of the other elf's cloak and wetting it again, replacing it on the fair haired elf's forehead.
Legolas noticed that he didn't move his left arm as far as possible.
"Very well, perhaps it's cracked," Elrohir amended, cutting off his brother's response when he added, "I was lucky I was so close to the wall, a few inches to the right and I would have been crushed – as you were, dear brother."
"Well, somebody had to try and save the prince here from that little rockslide!" Elladan shot back, grinning at the two other elves.
Legolas returned the grin weakly and asked indignantly,
"'Little?' You call that 'little'? I would hate to see what you consider a 'large' one then … The humans have gone?" he added after a few seconds, recalling the last few moments he could remember clearly before everything disappeared in the chaos of dust and falling stones.
Elrohir nodded.
"We think so. We can't hear them anymore. Cornallar must have noticed something and sent them to trap us. With some success."
"Some success? That's a mild way of putting it, brother!" Elladan spoke up, his aching head making him grumpy, "We are trapped in a cave, with limited supplies and without the ghost of a change to dig us out in time to save ada or Estel. That's some success, I'd say!"
Only now did Legolas notice that what little light there was in the gloomy cave came from the faint glowing their elven bodies emitted in the dark.
"Trapped? Are you sure?" he asked as he fought to keep his eyes open when sleep once again caught up with him.
Elrohir smiled at his friend.
"Rest, mellonamin," he said softly, "Sleep for a few hours to regain your strength. We will talk about everything later. Elladan and I will make sure nothing unfriendly disturbs your dreams."
Legolas returned the smile, forcing his closing eyes open once more. It was a miracle humans could stand that, he though irritated, this eyes-sliding-closed-thing annoyed him to no end.
"Wake me in a few hours," he demanded, his silver-blue eyes fixing on the younger twin, "We need to get moving quickly … Aragorn needs us …"
The elven prince couldn't keep his eyes from closing again, and, this time, they stayed that way. Just before he lost consciousness again, he remembered that he had forgotten to ask Elladan about his bow. Desperately trying to fight his way back to awareness, he finally gave up and allowed himself to drift off into sleep, vowing to ask the older twin first of all the next time he awoke.
Elrohir watched the other elf's breathing even out as he fell asleep and shot his twin brother a look that clearly stated that he would wake the fair haired elf the exact moment he thought him to be strong enough, not a minute earlier.
"We will, Legolas, don't worry," he lied, before he moved over to the wall next to which they were resting, leaning back to watch over his brother and friend.
They needed to stop. If they didn't stop soon, he would drop out of the saddle and Donyc and his men could scratch what was left of him off the cliffs a few hundred feet down to his right.
If he hadn't been so exhausted, Aragorn would even have smiled at that thought. Everything that made the humans' lives a bit more uncomfortable was worth a thought.
'No,' he thought as he tried to keep his eyes open, 'That would be a bit excessive, I think. Besides, I wouldn't be here to see their faces, and what would be the fun part, then?'
At least he didn't have to steer his horse by himself this time, something which he actually welcomed for once, because he seriously doubted that he would have been able to anyway. In the morning his captors had decided that the horse that had been wounded during his escape attempt was strong enough to carry his weight, something which the ranger agreed with whole-heartedly, since he had lost quite a bit of weight in the past week. So he had been placed on the chestnut mare that had been tied to Nólad's horse in front of him with a length of rope and had been left to his own devices.
They had been pressing on at a very fast pace, the humans and the elf were clearly intent on getting off the mountains as quickly as possible, and, once again, the weather aided them in their endeavour with blue sky and not a single snow flake in sight.
They had stopped shortly only once at midday and already at that time Aragorn had felt ready to drop. His whole body hurt so much that he could barely keep in the moans of pain every time his horse stumbled slightly. He groaned inwardly and shifted in his saddle, causing his whole upper body to explode in pain. Wryly he wondered what hurt worse, his broken ribs and the bruises or the tears in his back. That was really hard to decide, he thought after a while, he would have to think about that for some time.
While he was still pondering this, the elf in front of him stopped his horse and turned round to the humans that were following him, smiling slightly.
"We have crossed the mountains, finally," he said, fixing his light grey eyes on Donyc who was riding just behind Aragorn, shooting the young human dark glares once in a while. "About a league away there is a small wood on a ledge, overlooking the Old Forest Road. We will camp there, if we post one or two guards we will see everything that comes our way for miles."
Aragorn lifted his head at Nólad's words, scanning his dark surroundings. Even though he couldn't see much since the sun had disappeared behind a mountain peak an hour or so ago, he recognized the landscape. He had been here quite often, and he knew the ledge the elf was speaking of; he had camped there frequently with his brothers, or his father, or Legolas when they had been travelling to the High Pass.
The ranger squeezed his eyes tightly shut when he thought of his friend and family. Even though he fought these felling, he was slowly losing hope that someone was coming for him at all. And even if someone was looking for him, what were their chances of finding him before it was too late and Cornallar killed him, or worse, killed him and his father as well?
'Slim to none,' he thought dryly as his horse began moving once again, the jolting movements making his head ache fiercely once more. Clenching his teeth, he concentrated his entire strength on the goal of staying on top of his horse for the rest of the journey. Yesterday it hadn't been so bad, because he had slept for most of the day. After the conversation with Nólad he had fought unconsciousness for as long as he had been able to, which had proven to be not too long, and had drifted in and out of consciousness the whole day.
In the morning he hadn't felt too bad, but that had changed soon, now that he had to compensate for every single unevenness or stumble of his horse himself, without the fair haired elf's arm that had kept him on the horse.
Just when he felt that not even his pride would be able to keep him in the saddle any longer, they stopped, and Aragorn realized that they had indeed reached the wood. A fact that he would have noticed a long time ago, if he hadn't been so busy keeping his eyes from sliding shut.
Nólad dismounted and grabbed the rope that connected his horse to that of the ranger, handing it to Addramyr who had just got off his horse as well.
Turning to him, he said,
"Here, get him off that horse before he falls off by himself."
Giving the man a stern glare until he lowered his eyes and nodded, the fair haired elf fixed his eyes on the human commander.
"If I could have a word with you, Master Human?" he asked politely and added, "The rest of you can pitch camp. We will stay here for the night and continue tomorrow morning. The horses need the rest."
His eyes straying to the swaying figure of the young ranger, he added to himself, 'And not only them.'
Donyc dismounted and nodded curtly, issuing some orders to his men and motioning for the elf to lead the way.
After the two had disappeared into the darkness, the men started to make camp, some of them moving off into the shrubbery to gather firewood, others preparing to care for the horses and unloading the beasts. Satisfied that everything went smoothly, Donyc's second-in-command turned back to the young human in front of him, who truly looked ready to drop any second now.
"Very well, ranger, you heard the elf. Get off!"
Aragorn groaned inwardly, remembering the last time somebody had used these words. That time he had ended up lying sprawled in the mud after a knife's hilt had connected with his temple. Wincing when he thought of what another blow would do to his hurting head, he hurried to comply – or at least he tried to.
Up to this time he had been of the opinion that it was a good thing that his body felt so frozen that he almost couldn't move it, which was not surprising when one considered that he no longer wore a shirt beneath his leather overcoat. The cold seemed to comfortably numb his back and hands that hurt from being locked in one and the same position behind his back for three days now, because his captors had stayed true to their word and hadn't untied him for a second after his escape attempt.
'Well, now that fact is decidedly annoying,' Aragorn decided grumpily as he tried to swing his left leg over the horse's head to dismount, only to find that he couldn't move any of his extremities more than a few inches. Swallowing nervously when he looked down into Addramyr's impatient face, he tried again, once more without success.
The dark blonde human looked up at him, scowling.
"Are you trying to make this difficult again, boy?" he asked and grasped Aragorn's right arm, preparing to pull him off his horse.
The young ranger moaned in pain when the arrow wound in his shoulder flared to life and his chest protested that sudden movement vehemently. Addramyr paid him no heed and, with the help of another man, dragged Aragorn off the horse and into the direction the camp was being made right now. The younger human desperately tried to get his feet under him to take the strain off his arms, but the frozen limbs wouldn't cooperate and so he was hauled across the grass to one of the trees.
While the other man left again to get some rope, Addramyr cruelly pressed the other's injured back against the trunk, grinning as that action elicited another soft moan of pain from the ranger. Aragorn struggled to open his eyes and gave the other man a fiery glare that promised retribution in case he ever got out of this.
"You know, ranger, normally I think that Donyc overdoes it a bit from time to time, but this time I agree whole-heartedly: It will be a pleasure to see you broken," the blonde human said in a friendly tone of voice, his ire rising as he watched the unbroken fire in the younger human's gaze.
Aragorn licked his dry lips and said, his gleaming eyes not leaving the other's face,
"I wouldn't count on that if I were you, saurar."
Addramyr narrowed his eyes and before Aragorn could even comprehend what was happening, a fist connected with his cheek and slammed his head against the tree. While he waited for the pain and nausea to die down, Aragorn decided that his family had been right when they had told him two things.
First, that one of these days he would get into real trouble because he couldn't keep his mouth shut.
And second, as Elrond had told him so many times when he had struggled with Quenya grammar as a very young boy, you needn't speak another language to understand what was being said; it was the tone of voice that mattered.
'Obviously Addramyr agrees with him on that,' he thought dazedly as he watched the angry human in front of him who was massaging his aching knuckles with his left.
He wondered for an irrational moment if his body would give in before their hands hurt them too much for them to hit him anymore or if they would be forced to stop to let their hands heal a bit. He had to grin inwardly when he imagined the men with their hands covered in bandages, before the rational part of his mind helpfully supplied the fact that there were the elves as well, after all. Their hands wouldn't be grazed so quickly.
Donyc's second-in-command interrupted that rather fascinating contemplation as he grabbed the ranger's overcoat, pulling him closer.
"And I would hold my tongue if I were you, ranger," he growled, "And if I hear another word of elf speech again, you will regret it, believe me."
The other man chose just this moment to return with a length of coiled rope under his arm, and so Aragorn was spared an answer, for which he was rather thankful. He really didn't want to antagonize the man further. When they were finished tying him to the tree, Addramyr gave the ropes one last tug, grinning as he saw the grimace of pain flash across his captive's face, and stood, giving him a mock bow.
"Sweet dreams, ranger," he said teasingly and walked off, the other human on his heels.
Aragorn let his head fall back against the tree and closed his eyes.
'If they go on like this, they will have slapped all the wits I have still left out of me before this is over,' he thought dryly. 'But, according to Elrohir, that's not too much anyway.'
Now that he was in fact resting, he found that he couldn't sleep. Worried thoughts and unconnected considerations chased themselves through his brain, so was the thought of what was happening to his father right now and if he worried for him as much as he did closely followed by a plan where he would go should he ever managed to escape so he wouldn't have to lay eyes onto another tree in his lifetime.
Frowning slightly, he listened to the sounds the men were making while setting up camp and decided that his rather unstable state of mind was to blame on the slight infection that had set in. Nólad had told him something about it yesterday evening when he had checked his wounds, but since he had only been half-awake then, he couldn't remember what exactly that had been. He hadn't sounded too concerned though, but he never did, and why should the elf worry for him in the first place?
With difficulty Aragorn opened his eyes again when he heard someone approach, and before his lids had even opened half way, he knew that it was Seobryn. The boy really seemed to step on every single twig he could find, the young ranger decided with a grin.
Seobryn came closer, crouching down in front of him.
"You are still awake?"
Aragorn almost chuckled at that, only the thought of what his ribs would say about that kept him from doing so.
"Yes, I am," he replied softly, giving the boy a smile.
"That's good to see. I was afraid you would never wake after … that," the young man replied and averted his eyes.
"The elf sent me," he added in a way of explanation, producing some bread and a water skin.
He uncorked it and looked up at the bound human uncertainly.
"I cannot untie you or anything, but…"
Aragorn eyed him warily. He didn't like the idea of being fed at all, but since he hadn't eaten anything for longer than he could remember, he was more than ready put up with it in order to finally get some food. Besides, he was much too exhausted to be in mood to argue, and if he had to be fed by someone, he was glad it was Seobryn.
"I would be most thankful for your help," he said, inclining his head.
Seobryn nodded, obviously relieved, and sooner than anyone would have thought possible the bread had disappeared and the water skin was all but empty.
"Thank you," Aragorn said quietly, leaning back against the trunk again, "I had almost forgotten what food looks like."
The younger man looked down guiltily.
"I'm sorry, but there is nothing more I can bring you. Donyc's orders…"
The ranger leaned forward again, looking hard at the boy.
"Then why are you following them? Is it because of the money? You are not like the rest of your companions, you have a kind heart, contrary to them. Where are your parents?"
Seobryn lifted his head and looked at him with serious eyes, suddenly looking older than usual.
"They are dead. They died when orcs attacked our village seven years ago. It is … it was located to the south, between the Brandywine and the Greyflood River. There were only three survivors."
"I am sorry for your loss," Aragorn said after a small pause. "I know what it feels like to lose your parents. Mine died as well when I was very young. But didn't you have anyone to take you in, family or friends of your parents?"
Seobryn laughed, but the mirth didn't reach his eyes.
"Oh, yes, I did. Addramyr is my uncle."
The young ranger lowered his head and nodded slowly. That made sense.
"I see," he said softly and added after a while, "I am sorry."
"Yes, ranger, so am I. Most of the time I feel very sorry for myself, but I have lived long enough to understand that we cannot change the lot fate has chosen for you, so I try to make the best of it."
"Why don't you leave? Go and start a new life?"
Seobryn laughed again, embittered this time.
"And who would take me in? I haven't learned anything, I wouldn't be able to earn my living. Besides," his voice dropped to a whisper and looked behind him to make sure no one overheard their conversation, "My uncle is not an understanding man. He would feel betrayed and … and you don't want to see him when he feels betrayed, ranger."
Aragorn grimaced, remembering the 'conversation' he had had only a few minutes ago with Addramyr himself.
"No, I suppose not."
"So I stay and feel sorry, for myself and for others," the young man concluded, rising to his feet to leave. Just before he turned and walked away, Aragorn heard him whisper, "I have no other choice."
The ranger closed his eyes and relaxed as best as he could with his arms behind him and tied to a tree, too tired and in too much pain to argue with the boy.
Just before sleep finally claimed him, he smiled sarcastically, realizing that he was by far not the only person here who found himself caught in a situation he didn't want to be in.
When Legolas woke the next time, he felt a lot better than a few hours ago. But, he thought wryly as he wondered if he should try to open his eyes, that wasn't really hard, since that time he had felt as if a dozen trolls had tried to tenderize him for their evening meal by beating him repeatedly against a large tree trunk.
'No,' he decided, stifling a moan when he tried to move, 'I feel definitely better. It were only half a dozen trolls, I think.'
When he had just finished that thought, an impossible loud voice spoke up to his left.
"Good morning, my prince!"
Legolas groaned and stilled his movements, his hands straying to his hurting head. Why did Elrohir have to scream?
"It is night, brother," another voice noted dryly, although thankfully a lot softer.
"It was only a manner of speaking, Elladan," his twin muttered in an annoyed tone of voice, placing a cool hand on his friend's forehead.
"Legolas? Are you awake? We need to leave; perhaps one of these tunnels will lead us out and we can follow ada and the others."
The elven prince opened his eyes and fixed his tired silver-blue gaze on the face of his friend that came into view after blurring slightly once. Wordlessly he nodded and stretched out a hand, which Elrohir took carefully, pulling him into a sitting position. Fighting against the pain and nausea that washed over him and desperately wishing that the room would stop spinning, Legolas said softly,
"They will not."
"Pardon me?" Elladan asked, carefully moving closer to them, leaning back against the wall, his face pale.
"They will not lead us out," the fair haired elf explained, his voice stronger now that his body had accepted the fact that he wasn't going to listen to its complaints.
"As I said, I have been here before, and the only two tunnels that would have led us back out collapsed a few centuries ago."
The twins looked at him with identical looks of horror that made the prince chuckle.
"And what, pray tell, is so funny about our predicament?" Elrohir asked astonished, eyeing his friend for signs that he might have been hit harder on the head than he had first thought. "I don't know about you wood-elves, but in Rivendell we do not enjoy being trapped in caves for any period of time!"
Legolas stopped chuckling, even if more for the sake of his fiercely protesting ribs.
"You are right, mellonamin, forgive me. I should have said: There is no way out on this side of the mountains."
At that the twins' expressions grew even more horror-stricken than before, something which he had thought hardly possible.
Elrohir narrowed his eyes and sent the fair haired elf a suspicious glance.
"What do you mean, on 'this side'?" he asked.
Legolas shrugged indifferently.
"Oh, well, I mean that there is a tunnel leading under the mountains to the other side. It should take us only two days to reach the eastern parts of the Misty Mountains."
Elladan stared at him wide-eyed.
"'Only two days'??" he repeated faintly. "Ah well, that's not too bad I guess…"
Elrohir looked at both of them as if they had just announced that they had decided to marry a pair of dwarf maidens.
"Are both of you insane? Two days?? How do you know that anyway, if I may ask?"
Legolas eased himself up carefully, settling down next to the older twin.
"I told you that I have been in here before, haven't I? Well, when I was about, well, I think 150 years old, I and a few of my friend had a little argument. One thing led to another, and in the end Glónduil dared me to come here and travel through Nogrodrim, from east to west. The other entrance is located at the very foot of the mountains, just a mile or so to north of the point where the Road climbs up the slopes."
"And you did it?" the younger twin exclaimed incredulously.
The fair haired prince had at least the decency to look a bit sheepish.
"Well, as I said, I was young, and extremely foolish."
"'Out of your mind' might be the term you are looking for," Elrohir muttered under his breath.
Legolas ignored him and continued.
"Well, to spare you the whole tale, I made it in two days. Those were the two longest and darkest days in my whole life, and I have vowed never to do it again. Never. I very nearly died in here, and I promised myself I would never again stay underground for longer than a few hours. I came out again, but frankly, I would not like to test the mountains for a second time."
"Do we have another option?" Elladan asked carefully, dreading the answer.
His friend looked shortly at the jumble of boulders and rocks that blocked the space where the entrance had been a few hours earlier and lowered his head.
"Not that I can see," he whispered softly, claustrophobic memories washing over him.
The twins looked at each other, coming to a silent agreement quickly. After all, Legolas was right. They didn't have any other choice if they wanted to cross the mountains in time.
"Very well, we will follow your lead then," Elladan said and added, when the other elf's head shot up in surprise, "You are the only one who has ever been in here, or in such a position at all, mellonamin. During all our visits to grandmother and grandfather we have never travelled through Moria, not even before the dwarves deserted it, something which they should have done a long time ago, if you ask me. And, to be honest, I never wanted to see the inside of a mine, and I wouldn't have done it for a dare if you had promised me all the mithril in the world."
Legolas studied his friend's solemn face for a moment before he nodded his agreement.
"As you wish," he said. "But please, remember, it's been more than two thousand years since I have set foot in here, and I have done all I could to forget those two days – and the following years during which my father refused to let me leave the palace."
He grinned at the brothers who looked a bit more at ease now that they knew they wouldn't have to spend the rest of their days on Arda wandering through a vast cave system.
Turning seriously quite quickly, he asked,
"What about our supplies? What do we still have left?"
Elrohir shrugged, frowning as he counted on his fingers.
"Limited water and supplies, but for two or three days it should be enough. Some healing herbs from Elladan's and my packs, two blankets, no spare clothes and no wood. The weapons we had with us and, oh yes, and your horse."
"My horse?" Legolas asked happily, frowning when he started to remember something. Something which was connected with weapons …
"Yes, I don't know how it managed to survive either. I guess it's just as stubborn as its master."
The elven prince's frown deepened when he remembered what had been irking him since he had awoken.
"My bow," he said, watching the faces of the two dark haired elves closely, "Where is it?"
Elladan looked at him accusingly.
"You were awake!"
"No, not really," Legolas corrected impatiently, "You weren't serious when you said it was buried, were you? Were you??"
Elrohir placed a comforting hand on the prince's shoulder, his bruised face twitching slightly.
"I'm sorry, my friend. It was buried with you and I couldn't find it."
"It has found a worthy end, my friend," the older twin chimed in, trying to keep himself from laughing, "In the hour of need it was lost to us, far too early, yes, but we will honour its memory and will forever keep it in our hearts. Never was there a stronger and more beautiful bow! Alas, why was it taken from us…"
At this point Legolas had got to his feet and was trying – though swaying precariously - to push past the now snickering elf's brother to get to Elladan, anger on his face, but his eyes were twinkling playfully.
"Careful, son of Elrond. You don't know what you're talking about."
Elladan held up his hands, laughing helplessly.
"Peace, Legolas! I am sorry, my friend. I truly am. I will gladly entrust you with my own bow for the time being. It's the only one we've got left anyway; Elrohir's is broken as well."
Legolas glowered at the laughing twins, stifling his own laughter.
"Very well then. If you two have calmed down, I would like to leave now. I will be looking after my horse, if you two feel strong enough to follow me, please feel free to do so."
He turned and walked deeper into the caves, with one hand still grasping the stone wall for support as his body protested against the sudden movement. Suppressing a shudder of fear that raced through him when he thought of the journey that lay ahead of him, he told himself firmly to concentrate. The twins trusted him to find their way out of here, and if they did, they would even have a small head start on Lord Elrond and the others.
'Ilúvatar, the things I do for that human,' he grumbled in mock exasperation as he rounded a bend and looked around for his horse, stopping shortly to regain his breath and give the cave the opportunity to stop spinning, 'He will wish I left him there once I catch up with them!'
TBC...
mellonamin - my friend
ada - father (daddy)
saurar - foul one
*giggles* I very nearly built in a Darth Vader moment here (something which you can blame on Zam, too! *g*), something like Donyc as Seobryn's father ("Seobryn... *rattling breath* ... I am your father!"), at which point the poor boy would probably have thrown himself off the next tree! *g*
Well, I don't feel so well right now, I think I'll just go to bed and die. You can express your condolences by submitting a nice little review, I'm sure my family will be touched. Besides, they MIGHT revive me so I can post the next bit soon. *coughs and groans* I doubt it, though...
Additional A/N:
Arwen-Evenstar - Yeah, thanks, but somehow I have the sneaking suspicion that C&S are doing something similar in their newest story... *mumbles under her breath* It's not fair... Well, I'm glad you like Legolas torture as well, there is coming quite a lot in the next few chapters... *evil grin*
Evil Strasse - I don't see why you are trying to learn it, it's an ugly and hard language to learn. Besides, it's spoken in only three countries, well perhaps in a few more, but only by minorities then. So why bother? But I'm impressed! As I said, it's not easy to learn - or so I've heard... *g* You don't stink at reviews!*pats her back* It is _always_ nice to hear what people think. Always. *nods head adamantly* Thanks for reviewing!
AngelsofLight - *smiles nervously* I KNEW you knew that it was Aragorn's blood, I was just a bit confused, that's all... *g* Hey, and if you are born to say useless things, you have great company: Look at Legolas in TTT: Mr.Stating-the-obvious if there ever was one!! *runs away from angry Legolas fans* Hey!!! It's the truth!! *hugs her back* I'm glad you like it! *rereads review* You want me to burn your school? Uhm, okay, no problem, I'll send my balrog, he loves burning down stuff...
Nightshade - Don't worry, I won't stop now! I couldn't - it's just the question how long it will take me to get the chapters out, that's all. Thanks for the review!!
TrustingFriendship - Well, I don't actually enjoy inflicting pain one them, I only ... do?? Oh God, I need help!! *g* As I said, I will see what I can do about the "Make them suffer"-bit. But I agree with you, Cornallar and Donyc deserve to die a most horrible death. MOST horrible...
Firnsarnien - *looks at Firnsarnien with her head between her knees* Oh, gosh, I had no idea you would react like that!!! Well, I hurried with the chapter, I really did, I'm just kinda busy right now, lots to do... Yeah, well, Nólad is probably not a happy elf right now, I don't think he'll get any happier though... *evil cackle* If you want to comfort our favourite elven prince, you may hug him - carefully!! Really, if his head falls off it's your fault!!! *g* Thanks so much for the long review!!
Kirsten - Evil? Me?? You must confuse me with someone else... *g* I'm glad you enjoy it, hope you'll like the rest as well. Thanks for reviewing!
Ripki - *giggles* A box of chocolates? Careful then, you never know what you're gonna get next... *g* *looks around triumphantly* Exactly!!! That's just what I thought! Why does poor Elrond always have to stay at home and worry? No, this time _they_ worry about _him_, that's only fair... Well, I have thought about a sequel or something, but I only have a vague idea. Perhaps I'll have enough time to think about it when I'm in England. We'll see... Thanks for the great review!!
Miss Undastood - *hands her a new pen* Sorry. Here you are, more Seobryn, a whole lot of Seobryn in fact - don't kill me please?? *grins happily* I'm glad someone likes my sarcasm... Thanks!! *hugs her back*
ThE iNsAnE oNe - Yeah, poor boys ... *gives struggling elves and human a big hug* Where ... *grabs chainsaw again and hisses* ... is your story?? Where?? I need it, it's mine, my own, my precious!! *hits herself over head* God, the Gollumitis again... *g*
Marbienl - *whines* First TiO, now you!! Where is your story then? Post it, now!!! *grins* I'm glad you like it, even the torture, which I found very hard to write. Well, and Legolas will save him, but that's still three or four chapters in the future, I'm afraid... Thanks so much for the great review!!
Ciria - 40 chapters? That would be terrible!! I absolutely refuse to out up with them for much longer, they are quite annoying... *g* So, no more than 22 chapters, I think...HP??? Yeah, sure I've read all four parts, but where is the connection? Is there a collapsing cave? *shrugs* I don't think so... Nólad-ish?? *giggles* Well, you really love him, don't you? Sorry, there's not much more of him in this chappie, but he's in the next! Promise!
Sue - Well, I hope you liked the rest as well! Thanks a lot for letting me know!!
Jenny - *shakes head* I am not cruel. I'm only a tiny bit sadistic ... hey, wait a sec, isn't that worse?? *g* Thanks for the review, and indeed, both of them have a knack of manoeuvering themselves into horrible situations... *g*
Acacia - *bows* Yes, Legolas is quite smart, isn't he?? *pats his head* Cute little elfsie... You don't want more Legolas? Uhm, are you ill or something? I've certainly never heard that before... 'Your second favourite ranger'? Who is your favourite then?? And don't worry, he will get back to his ada, in the end - which is still a few chapters away, sorry... *g*
LeggyLover711 - Well, uhm ... I practice?? *evil cackle* I update as fast as posible, really!! Thanks for reviewing!!
Aralondwen - *blushes* Owww, thank you... *grins evilly* 'The voices', huh? I know exactly what you speak of, mate, believe me!! *g*
Mouse - *desperately jumping up to get to the M&Ms* Gimme that!!! See, I updated, they're MINE now!! *grabs bucket and runs off* Mhahahaha, all mine!!!! Yeah, I'm sorry about the cliffy (well, not really! *g*), but it's so much fun writing them!!! *starts eating M&Ms* You want some? Yes? Well, sorry, but they are mine!! Mhahaha!!
Kaeera - *zerrt an Kaeera* Lass - ihn - los - sonst - werd - ich - gewalttaetig!!! Keine Sorge, deinem Elrohir passiert schon nix - nichts ernstes, auf jeden Fall... *g* Tja, in der Zukunft gibt es noch mehr Elrond-starrt-Entfuehrer-an-Szenen, was soll der arme denn auch anderes machen?? Na ja, hab deine neue Geschichte schon gesehen, gehe gleich hiernach noch hin und gucke sie mir an - wenn mein Koerper bis dahin beschlossen hat, nicht auf der Stelle den Geist aufzugeben! *schnueff*
Reginabean - *walks up to the cliff, shaking her head* You and cliffs!! Really!! I _told_ it wasn't a good idea to hand out pamphlets here, but would you listen? No!! *looks down on her* Well, I'm not pulling you up again... *g*
Aurienia - Never fear, I would never kill the dear Prince of Mirkwood! I am too afraid of what the countless fangirls would do to me... *grins* Yes, Elrond is quite ... upset, I'm afraid... but unfortunately, Cornallar is too insane to do what a normal person would and RUN AWAY! Idiot... *looks at her strangely* Gorillas which will infect me with deadly fleas ... okay ... if you say so ... *g* *takes some popcorn* Thanks!! I'm glad you like it so much!! *huggles her*
Lina - *looks at Éomer, grinning nervously* Oh no, I'd never do _anything_ to our Estel, he'll be fine, honestly ... *crosses fingers behind her back* Don't you trust me?? Well, you see, nothing bad happened to Estel, he just got banged up a bit - happens all the time, don't ask me why ... *huggles Lina* Don't worry! You know I'd never permanently harm our baby!!
Zam - SEE?? The dwarf maidens were for you!! Because your story which you DON'T UPDATE ANYMORE inspired me to write this!! You have to update!! *looks at Lina threateningly* That goes for you, too!! *shrieks indignantly* PORNALLAR?? I _told_ you not to use that name again, didn't I?? Well, that's enough, I've just sent my warg after you, that'll teach you!! *giggles* Raping the prince? Well, I suppose there's a law against that as well... Well, I hope to see the Lina-Aragorn-Soap-Opera soon!! I'll even review!!
Analia - *blushes* Thanks so much for your kind words! I hope you'll enjoy the rest as well!! *looks at pointy objects* Don't even think about it!! I have a balrog and a warg which protect me!!
Alexa - *nods* Yes, poor elfling... He doesn't like caves much, does he?? *pats her back* That's it, breathe in ... breathe out ... breathe in ... Don't worry, the twins WILL help him. Well, of course I listen to you guys! I'm a review-addict, so I have to keep you happy! Well, a bit at least... LOL, your new words are great! 'Stupiperful', that's something... *g*
Cestari - Well, of course I say review in every chapter! They're what keeps me going, I _need_ them!! *hastily* Don't worry, they won't get captured, you can come down now ... come on, there's no need to do this ... *under her breath* Well, at least not now... I'm not sure yet who'll kill whom, but the evil ones will die!! *shakes fist* They deserve it!!
E - *innocent smile* No, never.... Hurt the twins or Legolas? Me?? Well, I'm sorry they are still alive, but it would be kind of anticlimatic if they all just dropped dead, wouldn't it? Don't worry, I will not stop updating, it's only the question of how much time I have at my hands, which is never enough, I can assure you... *g*
Mimi Fox - Don't worry, I would _never_ kill any of them!! Really!! I wouldn't dare... Thanks for the review!!
Shakiya - *grins happpily* Thanks! I hope you enjoyed the rest as well!!
ManuKu/Salara - So. Ihr glaubt also, ihr haettet meinen Balrog entfuehrt?! Glaubt ihr wirklich, ich waere so nachlaessig mit meinem Haustier? Haltet ihr mich wirklich fuer so dumm, dass ich solche Versuche nicht vorauszusehen wuesste?? Ich habe nicht hunderte von Todesdrohungen erhalten, um mich dann auf die faule Haut zu legen und nichts zu tun!! Guckt ihr doch noch einmal nach, ihr beiden Moechtegern-Kidnapper! (Hah, Cornallar wuerde sich ueber euch Amateure totlachen!!) Ist euch nicht aufgefallen, dass Stan ein wenig reglos ist? Irgendwie ausgestopft wirkt? Leblos? Kalt? Kein Feuer hat? Tja, ihr beiden, dass liegt daran, dass er ausgestopft IST!! Das, was ihr entfuehrt habt, ist nur 'Bålrog', die neuste Kuschelpuppe von Ikea, komplett mit Tongeraet und Nebelmaschine fuer Sound- und Raucheffekte!! Mhahahahah, wieder einmal bin ich siegreich!!! LOL, ich habe mich totgelacht!! Ich hoffe, ihr mochtet es trotzdem und habt viele schoene Ideen fuer neue Stories gesammelt... *g*
Alilacia - Ohhhh, only two hours' sleep, poor you... *huggles Alilacia* Well, *shrugs* it's not a secret, I guess. My friends are living in Essex, just half an hour to both Cambridge and London. It's great there, beautiful and close to the Sea as well. *sighs* I love the Sea... LOL, well, I think there are a lot more people who would love to get their hands on Cornallar or Donyc! Yeah well, I'm beginning to think that wargs aren't as ferocious as they're said to be. Fred sr. (TiO kept Fre jr.) is a danger only to broccoli... *shrugs* Well, better than nothing, I guess...
Angel - LOL, Saruman and Sauron!! That's just plain ... disgusting!!! Well, don't worry, I will not kill any of your babies!! Really! Yeah, okay, perhaps they get banged up a bit, but nothing more... Ohh, poor you!! Lost the story! I know how very frustrating this can be! But I'm glad you found it again... I'll have to stopa t your port? What id I take the PLANE, then??? *evil grin*
Stasia - *grins* I know. Reviews are just the most perfect things in the world!! Well, I'm sorry, but they can't hear you! I can't have you warn them, it would be no fun at all... *evil grin* LOL, Estel is safe? Well, that's another way of putting it... *hands Stasia a big cookie* Well done! You are only the second person to notice!! Some of them are indeed chess terms, but, bzw, I don't play chess either, not much anyway. I have to look it up... Lack-of-storyitis?? Well, I'll do my best to prevent any such ailments... *g* Thanks for your great review, once again!
Imbefaniel - Yeah, I read LOTR, The Hobbit and The Silmarillion in English, too. That's the reason why I'm writing this in English and not in German, I just cannot stand the German terms! I watched LOTR once (out of 14 times) in German, and I was laughing so hard that they very nearly threw me out! Hope your compurer is better now!! Thanks for reviewing!
Bella - Okay - here you go! That was fast, wasn't it? We wouldn't want your classwork to suffer, after all... *g* Besides, I have the same problems with my professors - they never understand what I'm talking about... Hope you'll enjoy this as well!
Tbiris - Yeah, that's what I have been trying to tell him as well, but would he listen? NO!! Just read on, most of it will be explained soon! Thanks for reviewing!!
Larus - LOL! I have no idea what you're talking about though, I did not blackmail anybody! All I did was make a few comments here and a little promise there - is that blackmail? Yes? Ah well, okay then... *g* And don't worry, you have succeeded in making me blush! Thank you soooooo very much for saying all the nice things you just did! *huggles her* AEFAE?? LOL, what is it with you people?! Sometimes I think you have to have acronyms for everything!! Well, thanks again, and I'm very much looking forward to reading your next review!!
God, I feel awful, really awful ... I have to go now before my mother drags me off to bed, she's waiting right now with camomile tea. *grimaces in disgust* Ack! I hate that tea!*whines* Well, thank you for the great reviews, I'd hug you, but I think I'd infect you too, so I'll just go to bed...