Greatest Risk

Part 7

A month had passed since the wedding and Legolas and Isilmeriel were ready to set out for Mirkwood. Aragorn had insisted that he go with them, not wanting them to travel alone.

It was now mid-afternoon and they had reached the edge of the forest that separated the mountains from the smooth plains. Legolas stepped out from the trees and welcomed the warmth of the sun. His ears did not pick up the sound of footsteps drawing closer to him until he felt the hard blow from the pommel of a sword.

Aragorn, knowing that he should protect Isilmeriel, grabbed her arm and pulled her back into the forest. Then threw her down on the soft floor and lay down beside her. The ranger had to hold his cousin down as they watched as other men joined Legolas' attacker.

Legolas was lifted from the ground to his knees and was held still by two strong-armed men. His elven eyes locked on a cruel looking, dark man who approached him. The man too closely resembled a man that Legolas regretted knowing. Fear and anger filled his mind at the memory.

"What have we here?" The man knelt down, taking the tip of his long dagger he tilted Legolas' chin up to meet him eye to eye. "An elf! Tell me, men," the rough looking man smiled wickedly, "Do we have enough supplies to keep this elf alive. He'll fetch a pretty price from people who want a pretty slave."

"We barely have enough for ourselves, Verlen," one of the men answered, "But if you think that he will be worth it, why not?"

"Good," Verlen chuckled to himself, "Shackle him with the other slaves."

"No!" Isilmeriel shouted, releasing herself from Aragorn's hold and stepping out from the trees.

"Another elf?" the slave trader raised his eyebrow as he looked over Isilmeriel. He could barely tell that she was female, for her hair was pulled back like a man's and she wore the clothing of a man.

The men that held Legolas pushed down harder on him as he tried to break free from their grasp.

"You cannot take him as your slave," she said.

Verlen laughed and walked over to Isilmeriel, circling her and flicking her hair, "And why is that, she elf?"

"I cannot let you," she answered solemnly.

This only caused the man to laugh harder, "Is that so? And how do you plan to stop me from taking him?"

Isilmeriel looked to her husband and looked away quickly. "I know that men of you kind like to make deals, unless I am mistaken."

"You aren't mistaken," said Verlen. "What of it?"

"If you let this elf go," Isilmeriel paused and took a deep breath, meeting the eyes of the man, "I will take his place."

"Va, melamin (Do not, my love)," Legolas begged.

"Shut up, you," one of the men holding Legolas down kicked him sharply in the stomach.

Isilmeriel rushed over to him as he doubled over in pain. She cupped his face in her hands. "Ava dela (Don't worry)"

"Why should I take you instead of him?" Verlen asked, noticing the affection between the two elves.

Isilmeriel stood regally and proposed her answer, "I am younger, swifter, than he is. And surely a she elf would fetch more of a price than any male ever would."

The slave trader thought for a moment, "Deal." Verlen pointed at one of his men, "You, fetch the rest of the caravan and have someone bring me the chains."

The man that Verlen had spoken to gave a quick nod and ran to where the caravan had made its camp. With in a few minutes he returned carrying heavy chains and presented them to Verlen. Verlen took the chains and held them out to Isilmeriel.

"One minute," she requested.

"Hurry up," Verlen shouted.

Isilmeriel knelt down next to her husband; their pain filled eyes meeting. Legolas saw within the depths of Isilmeriel's green eyes a hidden strength and courage he had not seen before. Yet, his heart burned with pain.

"Va lle sina. (Do not do this)," Legolas pleaded with unshed tears behind his eyes, "Avan vanya lav lle (I will not let you)"

Isilmeriel smiled sadly. Fighting back her own tears she unnoticeably slipped Isilas into his hand. "Elme arwa la cilme. Inye vanda na varylle ar inye vanya tessa sanda na ta. Llie atarlye cresse ayon are llie yonta..(We have no choice. I vowed to protect you and I will hold true to it. You are your father's only heir and you are.)" She let her voice trail off. Legolas would never let her use the fact that he was more important than her as an excuse to go in his place. " Estel nye, inye vanya hirtie atana lle. (Trust me, I will find a way back to you.)

Legolas brushed his lips lightly against Isilmeriel's, "Amin mela lle. (I love you)"

"Amin mela lle," Isilmeriel whispered back.

Standing up, Isilmeriel threw down her bow, arrows, sias, and the dagger that was concealed within her boot. She approached Verlen and stood proudly. She held out her hands and let them be shackled. Then she pulled the long hair away from her neck. Closing her eyes, she let the men place a cruel manacle around her neck.

Legolas struggled against the men who held him as he watched. He hated feeling this helpless. But what could he do? If he managed to free himself and fight he knew they would kill Isilmeriel.

"Move out, men," Verlen shouted to get the caravan rolling.

"No!" Legolas shouted.

"This ought to shut you up, elf," the man laughed wickedly bringing down the pommel of his sword once more on the elf's head.

Blood ran from the open wound and Legolas' eyes rolled back into his head as yellow dots danced in front of his eyes. The last thing he heard was the evil laughter of the slave traders and his wife's cry of pain as the caravan began moving. Consciousness slipped away from the prince as the men released their hold and he hit the ground.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Isilmeriel had been towed behind the caravan for several miles now and the sun was beginning to dip behind the horizon. Small blotches of blood stained the collar of her tunic from the manacle chafting her sensitive neck.

"This thing is not necessary," she said pulling at the metal around her neck.

The red headed man, shorter than Isilmeriel, grabbed the chain, jerking her neck downward as he laughed wickedly. Isilmeriel normally would have fought back but her hands were anything but free and being chained to a moving cart with a few other slaves did not help either.

"Neither was taking that elf's place, but you did it," the man replied. "And just because it's not necessary, does not mean that it's not fun. Especially shutting that elf up back there."

Isilmeriel tried to lunge at the man. Jumping back, the man dodged Isilmeriel's blow and let her fall to the ground. She cried out in pain as the moving cart pulled her along.

"Stop the cart," the slave next to Isilmeriel called out. She was young and fair of face with long brown hair. "The elf has fallen!"

The cart immediately stopped and the woman helped Isilmeriel to her feet. The man that stood over them kicked the woman down to the ground.

"Elves are people of grace, she can get her self up, slave," he growled.

"Manren!" Verlen shouted as he approached the man and slapped him across the face, "Enough. How many times must I tell you not to mess around with the slaves while the carts are moving? They need to be alive to sell them, especially the elf! I could care less about the others for right now."

"But, Verlen," Manren tried to defend himself, "I was just having a little fun."

"The things you consider fun.." Verlen began but suddenly changed the subject. "Seeing as how we have stopped, we might as well make camp. Manren, make sure the slaves get their rations."

Manren snarled as Verlen turned his back and walked away to join the men who busily getting a fire going. The heavy man went over to the cart that held the supplies and brought back a couple skins of water and a loaf of stale bread. Throwing them on the ground, he swore at the slaves, especially y the elf. Then he turned and joined the other traders who were now laughing merrily and sharing a barrel of ale.

The dark-hair slave girl took one of the skins and some bread and seated herself next to Isilmeriel who had backed away from the cart as far as she could. Taking a piece of cloth from her own rags, she began washing the blood away from Isilmeriel's neck.

"Thank you," Isilmeriel said as she winced in pain.

"You're welcome. My name is Kiarwyn. I know it can be tough for someone who's new in the line. If you need anything else just call me," the woman smiled as she finished treating Isilmeriel. "The days are long and nights are short, so you should try to rest as much as possible. We like to use the soft grass as a pallet and it keeps us warm. Well, good night then."

Isilmeriel watched Kiarwyn gather the long grasses of the plains and lay down upon them, sleep taking her instantly. The rest of the slaves did the same.

A good distance away Isilmeriel could here the laughter of the drunken slave drivers around the fire as they ate and drank their fill. This was her chance.

Isilmeriel searched the area around her for anything she could use to pick the locks of manacles that kept her prisoner. Finally, she found a small but strong stick and using a rock, she filed the end into a point and carefully opened the lock. It was a little trick that Rina had taught her when she the were out on an adventure together when she was still very, very young.

Isilmeriel carefully stepped out of the camp. Hesitantly she looked back at the number of sleeping slaves behind. She vowed, then and there, that she would return to free them when she could. Running as fast and silently as she could, she raced away from the caravan.

Manren had left the circle of men to scrounge the area for firewood. The cruel man saw the light that seemed to shine from the elf as she ran as fast as she could. He laughed wickedly to himself, waiting for her to come to him. As Isilmeriel passed by the man, Manren heavily brought both his fists down upon her head.

Isilmeriel fell to the cool earth motionless. Blood trickled down the side of her face from a cut that marred her temple.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Legolas could feel the warmth of fire against his back. He opened his eyes to find the stars twinkling at him. Reaching up, he felt the soft fabric of a bandage wrapped around his head.

"Oh, good," Aragorn said. Legolas spun around seeing the ranger on the other side of the fire roasting a partridge on a spit. "You're up."

"What happened?" Legolas groaned he felt the lump on the back of his head and the wetness of the bandage from the blood. The prince suddenly leapt to his feet, ignoring his throbbing head, as he remembered what happened. "Isilmeriel!"

Aragorn rose and went to his friend, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "She was taken, Legolas, remember?"

"Of course I remember, Aragorn," Legolas pulled away from the man and grabbed his bow, "Come on!"

Aragorn took the weapon away from Legolas and tried to get him to sit down again, "Legolas, they have at least a half day start ahead of us and you are injured."

"I don't care!" Legolas' words were harsher than he meant them to be. "Aragorn, they have taken my wife!"

"I know," Aragorn said softly.

"No, you don't!" Legolas yelled, anger and worry taking over. "Did you see what they put on her? They took her as a slave! As a slave, Aragorn. I will not stand idly by while those.those."

"Men?"

Legolas' voice softened a bit as he heard the tone in Aragorn's voice. "Those men will hurt her. I am going after her."

Aragorn caught the arm of Legolas as the elf was storming out of the camp, "No, you are not, Legolas."

"W do not know what they will do to her! What they could be doing to her now!"

Aragorn was taken aback by the fierceness of Legolas' voice. "Legolas, think this through. Do you want to see Isilmeriel ever again?"

"More than anything," Legolas replied softly fighting back tears.

Aragorn approached his elven friend and placed his hand on his shoulder once more, "If you go marching in there right now then they will kill you and Isilmeriel both. They out number us ten to one and they will use Isilmeriel as their defense. We need to think this through."

"The one time you want to think things through, Aragorn," Legolas laughed lightly.

"Now are you going to make fun of me all night, or are we going to make a plan to get your wife back?" Aragorn raised and eyebrow.

"I am sure we could make time for both," Legolas muttered so low that Aragorn could not hear him.

Legolas and Aragorn sat near the fire and mapped out everything that they were going to do to get Isilmeriel back.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Isilmeriel heard voices as she slowly woke up from the blow to the head she had sustained the night before. She could tell she was standing on something that was moving and that her hands her bound tightly above her head.

"Oh look," one voice said. As Isilmeriel opened her now gray eyes she could see Verlen and Manren standing in front of her. Verlen had been the one who had spoken and had now moved to her side. "The little wretch is awake. Good morning little she elf."

Isilmeriel turned her head away from the man as his last words were spat into her face. "Where am I?"

"You are still with us," Manren answered with a slight chuckle. "In a special cart where we take our insubordinate slaves and teach them a lesson.

"Yes, you tried to run away from us last night," Verlen added. "We cannot allow a thing like that to go unpunished. So we are going to have to break your spirit a little bit."

"Nothing can break my spirit," Isilmeriel's voice rasped but still held strength, "especially you. How can the weak break the strong."

Verlen brought his hand swiftly across Isilmeriel's face. Isilmeriel licked the blood that came to the surface of her lip. The man then grabbed her face in his hand and pushed her head back against the wooden post that she was bound to. He shook a long, leather whip with sharp objects tied at the end of the length in front of her face.

"This is how!" he replied spinning Isilmeriel around, pressing her face into the post.

Verlen cracked his whip a few times before he harshly brought it down upon her back. Isilmeriel bit her bleeding lip; she would not let this man hear her pain.

"What is the matter, elf," breathing hard he dropped his whip. Verlen had lashed out hard enough to kill a normal person with one stroke, but Isilmeriel had survived five without a sound. "Manren didn't knock you too senseless last night, did he?"

"No," Isilmeriel answered gravely. She was in great pain and blood ran from the lashes, but she would not give them any satisfaction. "I just did not feel a thing. How do you expect to break my spirits when you can't even break my skin?"

Verlen yelled out in frustration and turned to leave, but he stopped next Manren, "Now you can have your fun, Manren. I want to hear her scream. Just keep her alive."

Isilmeriel's eyes grew wide as Verlen leapt down from the moving covered cart, hearing the malicious laughter of Manren. She closed her eyes tightly and whispered, "Please Legolas, hurry. I do not know how much more of this I can take."

Isilmeriel's screams could be heard throughout the camp, as she could no longer take the pain of the torture she was being put through. Manren had finally stopped and cut Isilmeriel down from the pole. He left chuckling maliciously as she sobbed quietly in a dark corner of the cart.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Legolas' keen ears picked up on the sound of a distant cry, "Did you hear that, Aragorn?"

"Yes," Aragorn replied, he had heard it too, "It sounded like something in pain."

"Or someone," Legolas added grimly as he looked back at his friend. Aragorn was kneeling down and fingering through the grass. "Aragorn, what are you doing?"

:"You should see this," Aragorn waved Legolas over.

Legolas knelt beside his friend and gasped in horror at what he saw, "Blood! Isilmeriel?!"

"Yes, Legolas," Aragorn replied, "She did lay here.about two or three days ago."

Legolas and Aragorn leapt to their feet and ran in the direction that the caravan had taken. They were close, they only hoped that it was not too late.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Legolas and Aragorn had run for almost three days straight before they reached the slave caravan. Under the cover of heavy night, they easily and silently made their way through the camp. That is until Aragorn tripped over someone.

"Hey," a voice muffled a cry as Aragorn put his hand over Kiarwyn's mouth.

"We are looking for the she elf," Aragorn whispered low and released the woman, "Where is she?"

"They took her to the black cart over there," Kiarwyn pointed to the cart Isilmeriel was in.

"Thank you," Aragorn glanced at the chains around the young woman's wrists. He tugged at Legolas' sleeve, "Legolas, give me your pin."

Legolas shot his friend a confused look before realizing what Aragorn was going to do. He had almost forgotten that the ranger could pick locks. The elf undid the pin that was attached to his bow strap and handed it to Aragorn.

Aragorn quickly picked the lock open, freeing the young woman. "Now get out of here." He handed her the elf's pin. "Use this to free the others. All you have to do is move this around in the lock until you hear a click. Do you understand?"

"No, I couldn't," the girl said in a scared tone.

"You were born free and so were all of these other people," Aragorn spoke softly looking deep into her eyes, "You should not be anything other than that; so wake the strength that is in you. Trust me, all will be well. Now do you understand what I just told you?"

Kiarwyn nodded and whispered as low as possible, "Yes, I do. Thank you. I hope she's alright."

Legolas' worried eyes met the green ones of the young woman, "What do you mean?"

"They have been," Kiarwyn began to cry softly as she remembered the past few days. "Torturing her. Everyday at dawn, noon, and dusk we'd hear her screams. It has been horrible.

Legolas and Aragorn's mouths fell open. Both made their way over to the cart Kiarwyn had pointed to. Legolas and Aragorn entered at the same time. Legolas' heart nearly broke at what he saw.