Hey, Elentari and Ebony, you win!! It was Galadriel. **Sends Cookies** And yeah, I have read the books, I read them for the first time when I was 14--I think and read them again shortly after the movie came out…. I just thought this Alternate Universe series would be fun to write!! I'll shut up now--bye!

Chapter 12--Imprisoned

Legolas stumbled and nearly fell as he was shoved into the same room. The door slammed loudly and he could hear a key turn in the lock. He sighed to himself. All that was in the room was a straw pallet on the floor, a small table, a stool and a chamber pot. Legolas was relieved to see there was a window even though it was barred. At least he would be able to see the sun and the stars. He sat down on the pallet and waited for whatever was going to happen next.

Hours passed before the cell door opened and a young boy entered carrying a tray of food. He set it on the table and left without a word.

Legolas stood and went over to the table. There was no knife or fork on the tray with the food. He snorted. Probably is afraid I will attack someone with one of them, he thought. He ate the food though he wasn't really hungry then sat down again. There was nothing else to do. He thought about his father and brother.

**Meanwhile**

The messenger had brought back the King Of Mirkwood's response. Arathorn was furious when he read it. "Bring the prisoner to me now!!!" he bellowed. He glared icily at Legolas when he was brought in and forced to kneel at his feet. "Your father obviously feels little concern for your plight. He still refuses to surrender. Perhaps I should send something else back. Not a lock of your hair, maybe one of your ears would have greater impact," he said thoughtfully.

Legolas fought back a shudder. "My father will not surrender to you no matter what you do to me," he said.

"That puts you in a very precarious position, you are useless as a hostage so the only use you have is as a slave. Take him to the stable and turn him over to Reidan, the stable master," Arathorn ordered. "By the way, do not misbehave. You will not be punished, another will be. Remember that."

The guard dragged him out of the chamber. Legolas was led into the huge stable where a lot of other slaves bustled about. "Reidan! Got another one for you!!" the guard yelled.

A gray haired man with green eyes wearing a plain white shirt and tan breeches came up to them. He looked over Legolas with disdain. "What am I expected to do with this skinny creature?" he sneered.

"Not my problem, King Arathorn wants you to put him to work," the guard said and left.

Reidan looked Legolas over. "A damned elf, that is a new one, come with me, boy," he ordered.

Legolas scowled at the boy comment, but remembering what Arathorn had said he kept silent and followed the man to the other end of the stable.

Reidan gestured to a row of twelve stalls. "All of those must be cleaned out and fresh straw put down before this evening. Get busy and if it is not done I will take a strap to you," he said and walked off.

Legolas looked at the stalls and sighed. Picking up a pitchfork, he went to work. Somehow he managed to get them all done, but his shoulders and arms were so sore he could barely stand it.

A guard came for him shortly after and he was locked into the room again. Food and water was waiting, but he was too tired to eat. He laid on the pallet and healed his sore muscles then fell asleep moments after he was done. The next five days were pretty much the same and each night he would force himself to eat then collapse and sleep to tired to think.

**Meanwhile**

Aragorn, Syri, Boromir and Qui were enjoying lunch with Elrond and the twins when a guard hurried in and bowed. "My Lord, Prince Legolas' horse has returned rider less. I fear something has happened," he said.

Aragorn was the first outside and the others were close behind. When Aragorn saw the horse he cursed. "That is Silverheart all right," he said. "Damn it!"

"What do you think happened?" Boromir asked.

"I do not know, but I wager that my father has something to do with it," Aragorn growled. "We have to do something!"

"But we do not know if your father did do anything," Syri said.

"That is why we are going to Mirkwood to find out," Aragorn said grimly….

Hoo boy!! Aragorn is not pleased!! R/R please!!!