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Summary: AU Legolas sacrifices himself to save Aragorn but he doesn't know someone else did the same thing.

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Consequences

Chapter 9

Laeander and the other guards brought Legolas and Aragorn to the torment room. Once in there Thartel was waiting. "I've been waiting five years for this" "Can't you just leave him alone, you promised. Only weaklings can't keep promises" Legolas relented. "Oh I won't lay a finger on him, I just want him to watch you get the beating for something he did."

It finally made sense in Aragorn's mind that both Legolas and Elladan were here to save him. He heard what Legolas had said before, but now it hit him, and it hit him hard.

The fair haired elf noted the change in expression, on his friends face. "Estel" he said cautiously.

"It never sunk in before, I mean you told me out there but it never sunk in. If Elladan dies it'll be my fault. You getting tortured will be my fault." "Aragorn, don't say that." "Ah, but it's the truth. You took the life of my brother so I will take the life of yours. But I'm taking it a notch higher, I'm also taking the life of your best friend" said Thartel

It took all of Thartel's men to restrain Aragorn. When they finally brought him to the ground they tied his hands behind his back. They then took another piece of rope and put it between his hands and tied the piece to a pipe attached to the wall. Aragorn couldn't even get a meter away from the wall.

Thartel and Laeander had to hold Legolas the entire time. Them and some others, that were finished with Aragorn, attached Legolas to the same table that Elladan had been placed on. Legolas felt the dried blood underneath him and it made him cringe, for he knew who it had belonged to.

Thartel and his men each got a spear and began to poke at the elf. "Stop it leave him alone" Aragorn shouted, but they weren't even paying attention to him. "Please" he begged. The men were stabbing in spots they knew wouldn't kill him, just cause him an excruciating amount of pain.

"Elves are hard to break" Laeander noted remembering how Elladan wouldn't scream and now Legolas wouldn't either. "Oh don't worry, this one will be easy" Thartel replied noticing something hanging on the wall, that made a cruel grin cross his face. Laeander followed his boss' gaze and saw the same weapon. "Yes milord it will be easier." Laeander said with an evil laugh. Aragorn couldn't see what they were talking about, but could only guess when he laid his eyes on a whip that had small steel hooks sowed into leather.

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After hearing what Gandalf said Elrond immediately started sending out search parties. He didn't waste any time.

"I'm guessing when young Legolas learned of the disappearance of Elladan and Estel he went out searching for them on his own and still hasn't returned" The wizard said trying to make his long time friend Elrond feel better.

"Actually my friend Legolas left for Mirkwood a few days ago." A puzzled look crossed Gandalf's face. They were standing just outside the gates of Rivendell watching the parties leave. "Is there something that troubles you Gandalf?" "Well actually I just came from Mirkwood, and the young prince is not there."

"Glorfindel" Elrond called, him and the grey wizard were now both in the palace. At first Elrond had thought that something might have befallen Legolas on his way home. But that thought was quickly disregarded when Gandalf told him he came the way that Legolas would have went and there were no signs of a struggle or anything of that sort.

Glorfindel ran out of the houses of healing and just barely stopped himself before tripping. After regaining his composure he walked over to two of the elders. "Yes lord Elrond?" "Send word for Thranduil, that Legolas is also missing" "How?" the confused elf asked. "That is yet to be confirmed, now if you would please send for Thranduil" "Oh of course, I am sorry Gandalf".

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"Stop it please, stop he doesn't deserve this, it was my fault" Aragorn pleaded with Thartel. "You had better shut up or he will get it worse" Aragorn was on his knees, which put a strain on his wrists which were still tied. The screams hadn't stopped and neither had his tears.

In between yelps Legolas gathered enough strength to say this "do not cry mellon nin, this is not your fault…" He was about to say more but was cut off when the leather strap came down hitting him across the cheek, causing a large gash and even more blood to flow from his once fair face. You could no longer see his strong features for they were covered with blood. His blood. At last the pain was to much and he fell into darkness.

"NO" the Dunedin cried fearing that his frien had passed into the halls of mandos.

Shut up, will you, he is not dead merely just unconscious" Thartel said in a not to comforting tone. "How about we leave the two friends alone to converse" Thartel said with a malicious cackle. He just wanted Aragorn to feel the pain even deeper in his heart.

Thartel and his men left the room and locked the door. Two guards were stationed outside the Torment Area for precaution.

Aragorn was still attached to the pipe and Legolas to the table so the Dunedin couldn't even get close enough to touch his friend and feel for a pulse. "Legolas please wake up, you can't die. Please come back it is not your time to go. I should die before you." "Nay mellon nin, it is not your time either" Aragorn was overjoyed to hear his friends voice. But it also saddened him to hear how it cracked. The elf was loosing to much blood, and no doubt he would pass soon.

"Legolas you must be strong, do many people depend on you for you to die. I don't know what we'd do without you." Aragorn said. "Too many people depend on you Estel, that is why I surrendered myself. I could never live if I knew I let them hurt you." Aragorn was crying freely and he could care less.

"I'm sorry I let this happen to you Legolas, I'm sorry I brought this upon you. If I was any kind of friend I would have known that you didn't mean what you said." Legolas would have begun to cry if he was able. The tears were all gone from when he cried out during his abuse. His eyes were all glazed over, and Aragorn knew that was a bad sign.

"T'was not you who caused this. Everyone makes mistakes, and we all learn from them. People are made to be forgiving, and because this one is not, does not make you at fault." "But it was me who shot him, it was me who killed Thartel's brother" Aragorn replied. "Yes and you have learned from that mistake. You have not gone out hunting in the middle of the night since" They both let a small smile cross their face.

"We all make choices Estel and this was mine. I am glad that I made it. It is worth my life to save yours. We are all put here for a purpose, and I realize that this was mine. I fully accept it and am honoured to be able to help you go on living. But you have to promise me that you will." "Legolas, I don't know if I can, you were…you are my best friend." "And I always will be, but you have to make it out of here. You and Elladan, that is all I ask.

"Make me one last promise Estel" "Anything" he said in a whisper. "Alassea" (Be happy). Aragorn couldn't stop the tears that flowed even if he had wanted to. "I don't know if I can not knowing that it was my fault." Aragorn said shaking his head.

"It was not your fault, the blame for something can not be put solely on one person. Like I said we all make choices and its those choices that decide the outcome. If Thartel's brother was meant to die, he would have died no matter what you did. He had fulfilled his purpose and his time was over. And mine is also. I fulfilled my purpose, you are alive and will remain that way until your time is over. Now will you make me that promise. Get out of here both of you and be happy. Promise me." It was getting harder and harder for Legolas to speak and hold his head up so he could see his friend.

"I will try, I promise. But you must do me a favour. Hold on as long as you can. I found it here so my father must. Promise you'll hang on" "I have nothing left to hang on to, I am sorry" Legolas replied weakly. "You have to, please" Aragorn pleaded. "Let go of my life my friend, I have. Namariere" (farewell). And he closed his eyes. "No" Aragorn screamed seeing that Legolas' eyes were no longer open. He didn't know if the prince had indeed died or just blacked out. He couldn't see if there was a raise and fall of his chest. He prayed to the Valar that Legolas had just lost consciousness. "Please protect him, let him see the daylight again, please."

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