Kay everyone. Here's the next chapter. I know it's been a few days but school does that so I'm sorry. I send love to everyone who reviewed…thank you so much. I worked hard on this chapter…kind of different from what I was originally planning for this chapter so I don't know if you'll like it or not. Please tell me. Once again no word from my beta reader so this isn't read either. Sorry for any mistakes. I know it's bad.
Gimli grunted in dismay when Aragorn appeared at the breakfast table alone before seating himself beside Arwen. " Where's master Legolas?" He asked setting his fork aside. " I have yet to see him since we've arrived…"
" I spoke with Legolas and he decided he's much too tired to come down and prefers to breakfast in bed." Aragorn spoke casually before inspecting the contents of his plate. He felt Elrond's questioning gaze and shrugged his shoulders dismissively.
"Glorfindel could you please pass me the pitcher." Arwen asked. Glorfindel looked up from his plate.
" My lady the pitcher rests beside King Elessar." He answered, bright eyes showing confusion.
' Yet I ask you to pass it to me." The table watched the exchange quietly. Merry leaned over towards Pippin.
" Do you thinks she knows Pippin?" He whispered softly. All Eleven eyes turned towards the pair and Elrond nodded his head discreetly quieting the two. After a moment's silence conversations resumed and the event was forgotten.
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Legolas rolled onto his side and groaned burying his face into the silken pillow. " I cannot bear to stay in bed much longer…' He muttered, looking longingly at the window. The sun was bright and he could hear birds singing nearby. " Aragorn is too protective…a walk will not hurt me." He decided finally and rose from the bed with the beautiful feline movement that all elves possessed naturally. Slipping on a loose tunic and some leggings he went to the door, not bothering to braid his hair. He saw no one in the corridor and without a sound slipped out of the room.
As far as he could tell no one was about and he found it easy to escape out a garden exit and soon found himself wandering among the trees. Slowly he began to relax and smiled at the sun as it warmed his cheeks.
" What would a pretty elf like you be doing out in the woods alone? Shouldn't everyone be in for breakfast?" The voice of the man was unfamiliar and Legolas tensed immediately.
" Apparently not." He answered turning to face the sudden intrusion. Legolas guessed the man's age to be forty and did not trust him. His face was hard and weathered and dark beady eyes seemed to be studying him. Instinctively Legolas took a step back, placing a protective hand on his stomach. For the first time he noticed a firm roundness, not so noticeable to the naked eye yet it was plainly there in feel. Looking down he smiled wide-eyed. His momentary wonder was interrupted by the gruff voice of the intruder.
" Tense are we?" The man grinned. Legolas felt another wave of fear but pushed it back.
" Your face is an unfamiliar one. You are a stranger here." The man seemed to grin at this.
" Aye, I'm a stranger…but you must have realized young one that you seem a stranger to me, although a beautiful stranger."
" Young one?" Legolas asked color rising. " Stranger? I am considered an honored friend here .You would do well to leave as soon as possible before I summon help."
" You would do well to be quiet, beautiful." The man's grin intensified and Legolas saw lust clearly displayed in his eyes. He licked his lips hungrily and took a step forwards. Keeping a calm expression on his face Legolas remained where he was refusing to give into the urge to run. It was a simple man, he could outwit and out fight him in a second. Then why am I so afraid?
"I will repeat myself only once." Legolas swallowed determinedly. " It would serve you well to vacate this place immediately, or I swear to you that you will not leave alive."
" And I will say this to you…" The man took another step forwards and Legolas wrinkled his nose at the recognizable smell that men had come to adopt after many days travel. Light glittered in the man's eyes and Legolas resisted the urge to look away. He would not allow himself to leave the man unwatched. Slowly he ran his hand along the back of his leggings and came to the horrifying realization that he had not brought any weapons. He had not expected to be ambushed in a haven for the remaining Elves of Middle-Earth. The very fact that the man had gained entry unsettled him deeply. " Do not make a sound or I will slit your pretty little throat." Malice and lust now burned dark in the man's eyes and Legolas began to reach for the branch above his head.
Faster than the Prince could have anticipated the man had grasped him roughly around the throat, dragging him back to the ground. A surprised gasp escaped as a hand closed over his mouth. The other hand left his throat and he felt it travel downwards to the waist of his breeches and he shuddered involuntarily. The hand stopped and Legolas shivered as it ran across his stomach. "A little round for an elf perhaps?" The man snickered his faces inches from Legolas. Legolas could smell alcohol on the man's breath and wondered once more how he had gained access to Imladris. " Are you a lazy little elf?" Legolas did the only thing he could think of and bit down hard on the man's hand. Caught off guard he cursed loudly withdrawing his hand and Legolas reached up once more for the tree and once more hands grasped him, pulling him down roughly. As his back hit the trunk of the tree Legolas let out a grunt of pain and spat in the man's face.
" Unhand me and you may leave this place unharmed." He said in the stern regal voice he had adopted for public appearances. The man seemed unaffected.
" Ah…you believe you may still get out of this do you?" All Legolas saw was a glint in the sunlight before the unmistakable sensation of cold steel was pressed against his neck. Swallowing carefully Legolas fell still. " Will you make a sound or do I have to hurt you…we wouldn't want that would we?" And then the man kissed him roughly and Legolas struggled against the contact, disgust washing over him in waves. The man seemed to ignore him and using his free hand he let it stray southwards once more. A shudder of repulsion shook the Prince as he felt the hands pull roughly on the waistband in an attempt to discard him of his clothing. He tried to push the man but an arm immediately pinned his hands to his chest and the steel pressed harder against the porcelain skin.
" Please, I am begging you. Do not do this." Legolas panted trying to lean away from the weapon. The man laughed.
" I don't take kindly to beggars my pet."
" I am not your pet." Legolas answered anger flaring in his eyes once more.
" Then you are my whore." Legolas' fair face grew an angry red at these words. "Do you not like that?"
" I am no one's whore, I am a crowned prince of-" But he broke off in mid-sentence realizing he had revealed too much about himself.
" A prince? I have a prince in my grasp? Well such an opportunity should not be wasted." The knife was removed from Legolas' neck and with a solid swipe his tunic slid from his shoulders, the front torn in two. The first inkling of panic seemed to well up in the Prince's throat. The man had him paralyzed against the tree. He was helpless to move. Hungry lips sought the Elf's once again and Legolas shuddered when they crashed together and the man's tongue pressed eagerly at his mouth. He bit down hard refusing to open his mouth and was rewarded with a savage blow to the side of his head. " You would do well to obey me." The man growled tangling his fingers in the long blond hair. He tugged hard, drawing a wince from Legolas before beginning the assault on his mouth anew. Once again Legolas refused entry and was hit unmercifully in the ribs.
"Tua amin!" Legolas shouted desperately hoping for someone to hear his pleas for help. "Asca!"
" I do hate to see you in pain my prince but until you learn to listen, it will be necessary." The man struck Legolas again smiling when the plump red lips curled back in a grimace.
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Elrond and several other Elves all turned their heads sharply towards the door. Elladan and Elrohir jumped up from their places with such speed that the hobbits barely saw the motion. " Go. Asca!" Elrond instructed worriedly. The twins sprinted from the room, daggers drawn. Aragorn looked up at his father confused. " You go too." He avoided Arwen's stare and went after the twins, still unsure of what was happening. Arwen glared angrily at the goblet before her and picked it up, taking a small sip.
" Gandalf go and prepare Legolas' room." Elrond said quietly. Gandalf nodded and then stood slowly. " Let us hope it is nothing we cannot fix." Gimli stared around at everyone.
" What's this big fuss about? Why is everyone leavin' all of a sudden? I didn't hear a thing." Gimli said pushing his plate away. " What about Legolas? Is he in trouble?'
" Master Gimli do not trouble yourself right now. They will return in a few minutes." Galadriel searched Elrond's face and then turned to the rest of the room. " Someone must have a tale to tell us." She said. " We are in need of some entertainment." She suggested as Elrond stood and swept quietly out of the room.
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Legolas gasped as the man crushed his forearm against his neck, pressing him harder against the tree. Another hand began to tear at his leggings for the fourth time and tore the string easily. " You do not understand.' Legolas breathed clawing at the arm that restrained him. " You cannot do this!"
"And who will stop me?" The man hissed and finally managed to discard the pants. They fell forgotten with the tunic. The hand once more grazed the smooth skin, brushing the dark bruises that had begun to form. Legolas winced. Suddenly the hand grasped him tightly as the man's eyes grew wide and seconds later the man fell backwards, hitting the ground with a sickening crack. The tail feathers of an arrow peeked out from under the body. Legolas stood frozen against the tree, gasping for air as three figures rushed towards him.
" We heard your cries!" One of them shouted. It took Legolas a moment to recognize Elrohir.
" I-" He coughed and grasped at his chest. " I am alright."
" Legolas!" Aragorn's voice carried across the clearing and Legolas' eyes rose to meet those of his beloved and he took a step forwards before falling into the man's arms. Aragorn clasped him tightly to his chest aware that Legolas was shaking violently. " Sh…" He stroked the shining hair soothingly. " He's dead…" Not wanting to let his lover go Aragorn motioned with his eyes to the cloak that hung around his shoulders. Without a word Elladan unfastened it and draped it over Legolas.
" I no not how he gained access to our home." Elrohir stared down with disgust at the man. "He is no friend obviously."
" Father awaits us, we must go back inside…Legolas needs to rest." Elladan said softly. Aragorn nodded and began to lead Legolas back towards the main building.
Who's the man? How did he get in? Is the baby okay? Will everyone find out? Who knows…maybe I'll write about it next time…