A/N: Back to my old self! Thanks to everyone who reviewed!! You make all this worth the effort! Without your feedback, I'd probably still be lingering around chapter 6, just mustering up the courage to sit and write down what's on my head! ;) I was surprised with all the great responses to the last chapter! Apparently you liked it... OK! Comprehending that goes totally beyond my abilities, I admit it! I still say it could have been better... =) I'm also amazed at the amount of people who enjoy Legolas torture! It's almost like an ultimatum! ;) But frankly, the more I read the first chapters, the more I hate them! Not the fact that there was torture, mind you, but the things they did were pretty stupid. I mean... cutting his hair?? What kind of torture is that?! My apologies, I don't know what I was thinking... There will be some radical changes there, I can tell! But the first chapters have suddenly become very... useful to fulfil some requests. Eheh! A twisted little plan just formed in my mind! ;) And I'm back to writing Legolas! YAY!! Honest, those twins were getting a little bit too much importance there... where was Legolas the whole time?? I like the twins, but he's the best! After all, MIRKWOOD RULES!! =D
Erenriel – Now, I don't really know what to call you, dearest twin... Elven Canuck? LOL!! But personally, I preferred Ducky! Definitely Ducky!! ROTFL!! Why don't you just stick to Erenriel alone? =) Well, here at my home it doesn't snow, and I have to go about 200+ Km just to see it! I've seen it TWICE already, and I really enjoyed it! It's very cool! Right now, though, the sun is shining brightly, and it's really starting to get hot again! ;p LOL, just try to find the differences here!! Yes, Estel is a sweetie, isn't he? But Legolas is just better! Sorry. Eheh!... ;)
tapetum lucidum - My kittie, Lianor, asked me to tell you this: "Thanks for educating my silly friend, here! It's amazing how ignorant humans can be! I had told her, but she just didn't believe me... Meow!" =) And thy bidding hast not fallen on deaf ears nor blind eyes! ;D Crazy? Oh, you mean the temple stuff? LOL! It was actually more of a private joke. You see, my friend Helluin (the one from SotR?) once actually did one for me! ROTFL! It even had a dragon guarding the entrance! Very funny really! Eheh!... =D
szhismine - Annoying? oO! Well, as I said, I was suffering from the influence of the year's "Second Cursed Week", but even if I wasn't, I'm always a bit insecure and unconfident as to how people will react to this and what they'll think. I guess that is one of my major flaws: I like to be liked! Oh well... I think you'd really be surprised if you were to meet me live! I'm just so different, except to close friends! :)
Lady Lenna - THANKS!! Exciting? YYYAAAYYY!!! I really like that word, and I'm glad you think this qualifies as it! Somehow, I have a feeling you'll like this chapter... ;)
Shauna - Well, I only changed the story last time because I could (and sorry for saying this, but it felt so good! eheh...). Right now though, you got some things right and others completely wrong, from what I have already decided! But from now on, it will surely be harder to modify and easier to guess, since it's all downwards from here! It's time to start getting things right (but that doesn't mean there won't be some ups in the meanwhile)! Oh, the title... I wouldn't pay much attention to it, if I were you. It's just something very general that I thought up at the time... I like to name things when they're already done. Simply didn't want this to remain "Still untitled" for eternity. Good luck with your busy weeks! Those are really hell, I know! But of course, by the time you read this they will most likely have passed already... oh well! May the Valar take my blessing to you anyway! LOL! MLA ;D
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Chapter XVI - Irony
"How many do you think there are in there? What more have you seen?"
Elladan and Legolas still hid in the tree, although the men's search had long ceased. The sun had begun westering and the sky had taken on tones of purple. The already shadowy woods were now pitch-black. In less than an hour, the darkness of night would fall.
"I have not seen many. About two dozens, but I very much doubt that there are no more, waiting inside. But Elladan, you, at Imladris, were not aware of these enemies. How could this be?"
"We avoid these woods, they're dark and uninviting. But I don't think there are many more of these men. They're evidently descendants of Rhudaur, but the fact that at Rivendell we had no idea they existed..." Elladan shook his head in confusion. "If there were plenty of them, we would have noticed."
"Yes, I believe you. But, still, to hold such a fortress here..."
"Even though. The citadel is large. Even if there are more than a hundred, they will be scattered throughout the place. You say that every window has a guard? I don't suppose they'll let us in through the front door, so our best chance is the rooftop. Unless you know of another entrance? A secret one perhaps?" Legolas almost laughed at the comment, were it not for the dire situation.
"Nay, mellon. And if one does exist, it would take long to find it! We'll have to make for the roof, and even that will prove difficult!"
"How so? We could climb from one of the sides, I see no guards out here."
"Yes, indeed! On the North-eastern side there's a perfect spot for that. Unfortunately, it goes through a great balcony. With more guards in it! All the other walls are simply too steep for climbing, I think." Elladan's face turned to one of disappointment and frustration.
"Curse them! Curse this foul place! Are the guards always outside?"
"From what I could tell, yes."
"Then how?... Oh, curse this!" Elladan leaned back against the trunk in defeat, but Legolas was thinking.
"I have an idea, mellon. Maybe we don't have to reach the top, after all. If you are willing..." The Rivendell elf gave him a measuring look, but spoke with strong determination braided into his voice.
"Speak."
~*~
Elrohir stood again before the old King, this time with Estel by his side and a more relieved heart. He thanked every Vala and every Maia he knew for finding the child unharmed. Again, they pressed him mercilessly for answers and the elf would not give in, not even with the guard's growing joy and hope that last night's treatment would be repeated.
They had spent the whole morning in the great chamber and half of the afternoon was surely spent already. Many questions were made in that room, but little replies would echo back to them.
Suddenly, the other guard from before entered, bearing an unreadable expression on his face.
"My King, pardon to interrupt, but the bird has returned. The orcs will be here by nightfall." The King smiled evilly at the elf, nodded to the guard and waved them all away.
"Take these back to their cells, and make sure you put this elf in the darkest and smallest one you can find." After the prisoners had left, he added. "I want to be notified immediately as soon as you have sight of that foul scum arriving. It is only a temporary alliance..."
"Yes, my King."
As he was being taken, Elrohir's mind raced to think of a plan to escape. If there were orcs in this, then they'd better get out. Very soon. He found that there were little guards, and more windows here, in the upper floors. He tried to form a mental image of the many corridors, so that, if the opportunity was to present itself, he could better find his way out.
Large corridor across - small hall - turn to the left and stairways below. It was a confusing map, but better than nothing. Another long corridor - a window with no guards - right turn - left - too many guards here, I'd never reach that window without a weapon. And so, after a while of more walking, they reached the dungeons. Elrohir tried to comfort Estel again and assure him that things would be well, and again the guards pushed them apart, dragging the elf to one side and pushing Estel to an already open cell. Elrohir memorised it.
~Orcs? Where could they come from? They can't be too far away, if they'll be here this soon! Ai, Elbereth! I am just discovering new, unpleasant, things about my own homeland, which I thought I knew so well! And what of Elladan? What of Legolas? The men mustn't have them, otherwise I'm sure I would have seen them already... Ai, Elbereth!~
~*~
Elladan climbed the outer wall, trying to be as silent as possible and to keep out of sight of any man that might wander around. He had no ropes to aid him and held on to the bare rock alone. Night had already fallen and, occasionally, he'd pass by some window emanating a soft glow from inside. He was glad, for that way he could tell which windows were more dangerous to go near.
He had Legolas' knife in his belt, for his own sword was long lost. He was following Legolas' plan and, when he reached the top of the wall, he found a good suiting ledge in the rock to lie, near one of the sides, and cautiously looked at the North-eastern balcony. Six guards were there, and fortunately, none was looking directly at him.
He receded and thought things through. He looked to the trees behind him and to his sides, judging the distance and the time that would take for one to go from one side to the other. He grabbed the knife and leapt to the balcony above.
All the guards turned and charged immediately. Elladan fought them all, but was sure to never get too far from the edge as to not get surrounded. He was glad that none of the men was too bright, for they left the rest of the platform unprotected and unwatched. Just as they'd hoped.
Opposite of Elladan, Legolas jumped from the trees to the unprotected side and moved stealthily inside the castle. Elladan noted this, and as soon as the wood-elf had disappeared, he was fighting his way to the same place in which Legolas had been hiding, for there the trees were closer to the border, and he left the balcony again. Some of the braver men followed him, others hesitated a little, and others still hurried back inside to alert the rest.
Legolas ran silent and carefully through the hallways, not having the least idea of where he could find the captives. He guessed they should be in the lower floors, for that was usually where they were kept, but still he could find no stairs that would lead him there.
Finally, he stumbled upon the stairs and would have fallen down them, if not for the guard coming up. He leapt up, took hold of the doorway, and balanced his legs against the man, throwing him down with lightning speed. The man was left unconscious and Legolas hid him in a dark corner, for there were plenty of those in the castle.
Just as he had finished, though, voices were heard coming his way, and he hid himself as well, silent and invisible as a hunter observing his prey. His breathing was louder than usual, but still, he figured it would go unnoticed to mortal ears. They passed by him, and did not even spare a glance to the corner he was hiding in. As soon as they were out of sight, Legolas jumped out and continued his descent, till he got to the bottom floor.
Shouts and sounds of heavy boots came from above. The men were going outside, and from what words he could make, he knew they were going after Elladan. ~ Nai nál mára, nildo, nál varna. Núvan omentië le rato, ar Elrohir ar Estel acca! Ai, Elbereth, varyas! [Be well, friend, be safe. I will be joining you soon, and Elrohir and Estel too! Ai, Elbereth, protect him!]~
When he reached the end of the stairs, he stayed close to one of the walls and peeked in to the corridor. No one was there. Legolas started running again, and decided to see to where that corridor lead.
At its end, there was a thick, large door. He opened it and came face to face with two men, standing as if they were keeping watch over something. One of them had a set of keys by his belt and the other, next to him, had a piece of cloth attached to his nose. Behind them, securely closed iron doors. If those were not the cells, then Legolas did not know what else they could be.
He reached for his boot and took out a silver dagger, it was something he always carried around. Before any of the men could react, he'd slit the keys' keeper's throat and slashed at the other. But this one was faster, and evaded the blow. He stood up and unsheathed his sword. The noises of metal clashing against metal reached the captives, and soon Legolas heard Elrohir calling.
It was a fight Legolas won only because of his speed and quick reflexes, for the man had the advantage. In the end, the limp body fell to the floor and the blood pooled by his head. Legolas hurried and took the keys from the first one. He opened one of the doors and there was Elrohir to greet him, holding his arm.
"There. Estel is over there."
They unlocked the door and entered the dark room. Estel was crouched in a corner and both elves hurriedly went to his side.
"Estel, everything is alright now. But we have to leave this place. I'm sure you don't want to stay here now, do you?" Estel looked at Legolas with hope filled eyes and smiled as he got up, ready to follow the elves.
"You are an elf! I believe you now."
~Elrond was right to call you Estel... even here it resists. You are strong, both physically and, most important, mentally, little one. I foresee you will be great some day.~
The elves rose as well, but as they turned to face the door, a dark man, a bloodied elf and a filthy orc were there. The guard had a knife against Elladan's throat and, to the elf's other side, there was a strangely familiar orc: Glaukh. The guard spoke.
"Since you're already in there..."