The Woods of Fear and Pain

Summary: Aragorn and Legolas are separated in a forest, and Legolas is captured and tortured. Can Aragorn reach him in time, or will he be too late to save his friend? NOT SLASH!!

Disclaimer: I only own the plot, and the man in the forest, but everything else belongs to J.R.R Tolkien.

Chapter 1: Legolas POV

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I ran through the forest, Aragorn at my side. We were hunting down a group of orcs, but quickly losing them, for their pace was fast. I peered into the trees ahead of us, hoping for a glimpse of the foul creatures, but could see nothing. I slowed my run, and finally halted.

"Legolas, we cannot give up hope," Aragorn said, stopping alongside me, "we can catch them."

"They are too far ahead, and moving too quickly," I sighed," Our only hope in catching them is if we split up."

"Well then we shall split up and search for them!" Aragorn cried, unsheathing his sword.

I hesitated, but finally agreed, said farewell to my friend, and ran off into the trees, looking for any sign of the orcs. I stopped when I heard footsteps behind me.

"Aragorn?" I questioned, turning around, but it wasn't Aragorn coming towards me, it was a wild looking man, with a gray stubble and grayish, long, wild hair. His clothes were torn and loose, and he stumbled instead of walked.

"What's this?" He laughed, his voice scratchy and slurred, "A lost elf?"

I kept my distance from the strange man, being very cautious and saying nothing. Before I could do anything, he lunged at me, grabbing my tunic and pulling my face towards his. His breath smelled foul, like alcohol, his teeth were yellow and crooked, and his skin was gray and wrinkled. I struggled against his grip, but he was strong for a drunkard. He laughed horribly, and started to drag me through the woods, but I threw him off, immediately grabbing my bow and aiming an arrow at his forehead.

He only grinned. "Sure, go ahead and shoot me," He said quietly, "You can go, and I'll leave." Slowly I lowered my bow, but keeping it ready. Suddenly, he grabbed it and the arrow, and knocked me to the ground.

"What are you doing?" I yelled, but he silenced me by stuffing a dirty cloth in my mouth, making me gag. "You're coming with me." He grinned, revealing those horrible teeth and dragging me into the woods. I unsuccessfully tried to throw him off again, until we reached a small clearing.

The man threw me on the ground, but before I could get up and escape, he grabbed me again, throwing me up against a tree and tying my arms and legs around it tightly. I bit my lip to keep from crying out in pain, the thin rope dug into my fair skin, so tightly tied I couldn't move at all. I squirmed and fought to get free, but the more I fought, the more the rope cut and burned my skin.

"Comfortable?" The man laughed again, gathering some sticks in the middle of the clearing and starting a small fire. I stared fearfully at the flames, wondering what this crazy man was going to do to me next. He removed the cloth from my mouth, leaving it dry and foul tasting, and walked back to the fire.

"I never really liked Elves that much," He said, picking up a fair sized stone and throwing it into the fire, "Wait till I tell my friends I captured one!" He laughed, and dug the stone out of the flames with a stick.

Still I said nothing, wincing as the ropes cut deeper into my arms and legs as I hung against the tree. Carefully the man picked up the stone, and slowly walked over to me.

"This is what all Elves in Middle Earth deserve." He sneered, and pressed the stone onto my cheek. White-hot pain shot through my body, and I screamed in agony as the man laughed.

"That was fun wasn't it Elf?" He chuckled once he removed the rock," Want to do it again?" he pressed the stone onto my face again, and I screamed one word at the night sky through the man's laughter.

"Aragorn!"

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