Disclaimer: I only own Nifien, nothing else! NOTHING! *sob *
A/N: Hello, I'm back again! Creative chapter title, no? *wink * Thank you all for reviewing, great birthday gifts! And wow, 212 reviews?! I can't thank you guys enough! *faints * Thank you so much for reviewing! I appreciate everything, good and bad, flame and flattery! Tell me how I'm doing! Now, this chapter I DID make longer! Yay! Have fun! This chapter should have a slightly higher rating due to violence. It starts out pretty bad. I'm not particularly happy with the start, but whatever. It gets somewhat better as it progresses.
* * *
Legolas' eyes snapped open. He had been dreaming again, about his father; about how his father hated him. No part of him wanted to believe that. But part of him took it into consideration.
Nifien was sleeping soundly. He tried not to be angry, but he couldn't help but feel jealous that nothing had happened to her, and everything he could imagine had befallen him. For what purpose did Saruman even keep her here? He had no use of her.
Legolas looked around. From what he could make out, he and Nifien were the only prisoners. Vaguely, his mind began to drift. He remembered the towering mallorn trees of Lothlorien, the sunset, the sunrise; for in his world before this, the sun had always risen, the stars had always shone. The birds had sung happily and the trees had welcomed his presence. What he would give to have one more day in that life! One more day, one hour, one minute; anything!
"Why are you crying?"
The question was flat, no compassion, no feeling in the voice whatsoever. Just a question. Legolas turned his face to Nifien. Nothing glimmered in her face, unless it was annoyance.
Legolas almost laughed. He felt himself smile a crazed grin. "How could you not?" Now he laughed. "My father, my friends, they all hate me. They all will just leave me here. And I'll remain forever, never to see the trees again, never to love, never to be loved . . ." He shook his head, and let it drop into his hands. "I'll remain for eternity, in the dark, drowning in my own blood, but never quite dying." Anger rose in his voice. "Is that reason enough to cry?"
Nifien shrugged. "I guess."
Legolas loathed how he could give up so easily. He hated how he sought pity and help from his friends even when before he wouldn't accept either in any situation. But there seemed nothing else to do. There was nothing left to live for, no reason for him to go on. But he knew, were he to try and take his own life, he couldn't do it. Life was a precious thing, though wretched.
"Little elfling," the all to familiar voice rose from the dark. Legolas felt himself pale. "Don't be so sad. Soon you'll be free again."
Legolas furrowed his brow. What was that supposed to mean?
Suddenly, Saruman was standing beside Legolas, peering down at him. "Do you remember what I told you once about orcs?"
It took a moment for Legolas to register the thought. He had been trying to forget everything Saruman had told him.
"They were elves once. Do you remember me saying that to you?"
Oh, how he did. He clapped his hands over his ears. Saruman leaned down and forced them away, putting force especially on the broken one.
"Tortured, mutilated, broken elves. A twisted and terrible form of life. Morgoth created them to breed on their own. But, seeing as you're not going anywhere . . ." Saruman knelt down, so that he was bent, face to face with the terrified elf, "I've always thought that an orc made directly from an elf would be stronger."
Legolas couldn't tear his eyes from Saruman's dark, black pits. He knew he was crying. He could feel the tears. He could feel Saruman's delight at his terror. It radiated from the Istar, like the elven glow that Legolas had long since lost.
Saruman yanked Legolas upwards by his hair in one swift movement. He let ago, letting Legolas find his balance on his own. But the elf's mutilated legs refused to hold his light weight, and crumpled beneath him. Legolas winced as his body hit the floor.
"Stand up, little elf," Saruman commanded.
Where his tears came from, Legolas didn't know. He would have thought that he had no more left to cry. But still he felt the salty fluid poor from his terrified eyes. He braced himself against the wall, and painfully hauled himself to his feet, leaning against the stone heavily. Even that movement had caused his breath to become laboured.
"Good, very good, elfling." Legolas shuddered at Saruman's pleased tone. The wizard approached Legolas slowly, but the elf backed away, his feet fumbling in panic. But Saruman came fast, and scratched Legolas across his face with his long, sharp fingernails. Four thin, yet painful strips of scarlet materialized on Legolas' face, and he clutched it with his one hand, using the other one to steady himself on the wall.
"Don't try to run, little elf, it will only worsen things."
Saruman reached to a nearby torch. A long iron rod had been resting there, absorbing the flame's heat. He brandished it, showing it to Legolas. The red metal reflected in the elf's blue orbs, wide in distress.
"You know this weapon, don't you? You've experienced it before." Legolas stumbled backwards, and fell to the ground again. "Don't run, little elf, it will do you no good."
Saruman searched the elf for his weaknesses. He laughed to himself. Every inch of his body holds a weakness, he thought. But he knew what would hurt. He knew what would make the elf scream.
The wizard lunged at Legolas, and pressed the iron hard against his leg. All the crusted blood seemed to melt, and the skin underneath the iron sizzled and gave way deeper and deeper. The cuts scattered over his flesh spilt more blood. Legolas' body writhed on the ground, crying out in terrible misery.
Suddenly, Saruman withdrew the iron. He had driven it deep into Legolas' flesh, so that now the bone was exposed.
"You didn't like that, did you, elfling." Saruman listened to the elf's rapid, panicked breathe. "You should be stronger."
He swung the iron down and struck Legolas' exposed bone hard. A long, icy scream erupted from Legolas' mouth. As the iron remained there, burning away at his leg, he cried all over again.
"My, you are weak, little prince."
"No, no, please, just get it off, NO! GET IT OFF OF ME!" he sobbed. Legolas' arms flailed at the long iron rod, trying to pull it away, but Saruman only pressed harder as he struggled. Suddenly, he brandished it above his head again, and struck Legolas in the same place. The elf cried out terribly as he heard the bone crack.
All of a sudden, a great light flared up. Legolas' leggings had caught fire. Saruman withdrew his weapon, and stood idly by as Legolas batted at the flame with his bare hands, trying desperately to put it out as his tears evaporated in the heat and his sobbing and wailing was lost in the Istar's laughter.
An orc appeared at Saruman's side. It stood laughing in mirth for a while as it stared at Legolas' agony. Saruman turned to him. "What is it now?"
"Two elves have been spotted running towards Orthanc," the orc replied, still grinning.
Saruman grinned. He glanced over to Legolas, who had now put out the fire and was nursing his badly burnt leg and blistered hands. "I will come and greet them personally."
Legolas looked upwards, only hearing Saruman's last quote. Saruman looked down in false sympathy. "Poor little elf, you are so, so scared." He kicked Legolas in the stomach, winding him. He doubled over. "I'll be back for you." The wizard followed the orc away.
Legolas slid to the ground. "Elbereth save me!" he cried out. He found he couldn't cry any more tears, but still he felt his heart sinking; drowning.
"Why didn't you fight back?"
Legolas clenched his fists, and winced at the pressure on the blisters. How could that be all she could say? He wanted to scream at her, he wanted to knock sense into her, but he wouldn't. He couldn't.
"Why are you so heartless?" he sighed. "Do you care for nothing? How do you not feel?"
Nifien sighed. A moment of silence elapsed. For a while Legolas thought she wasn't going to say anything. "When a was just a child, I was taken by orcs. I was brought here. I went through everything imaginable, but I escaped. My parents, my friends all turned on me. They wouldn't accept me again. They said they couldn't trust me anymore, and that I was too different. That was long, long, long ago. Ever since I've wandered this world, alone. I have been through things you'll never know. I've seen things that were never meant for any living thing to set eyes on. Over time, it hardens one's heart to the point of ice." Legolas only then heard her sniff quietly. She was crying. "And for that, I have always hated myself."
Silence. Silence in exhaustion and disbelief.
"I'm sorry, Nifien, I . . ."
"No, that's alright. It feels good to have someone to talk to." The chains that suspended Nifien's arms above her head clattered as she shifted her weight. "When I first saw you, I really, really wanted to help you, but my mind closed those thoughts away, and I became the cold hearted girl I've always been. But I also realized that you are strong." Legolas raised his eyes to meet hers, confused. "I saw others fall. I saw others break; others give up and let death overcome them. But you don't."
Legolas smiled in the dark. If he could believe that, he would. If he were not so broken already, he would have believed in what was true. Some part of him knew Nifien was telling the truth. But to know is not to believe; to believe is to know.
Saruman watched the two from afar. He frowned at how Legolas' mind had been distracted from his pain. He muttered some ancient words, walked close to Legolas. Legolas didn't move or notice. Saruman smiled. He muttered some more words and waved his staff.
Suddenly Legolas cried out, and clutched his burnt leg. It was as if the fire had started all over again, eating away at his flesh. Tears of pain welled up in his eyes uncontrollably. But there was nothing he could do to stop the burning. He brought his other leg to his chest and rocked back and forth.
* * *
"You've returned sooner than I had expected you, Thranduil." Saruman greeted Haldir and the elf-lord. "Have you reconsidered my offer?"
Thranduil glared daggers at Saruman. "No," he stated flatly. "But I have an offer to make you."
Saruman cocked an eyebrow in interest. "Oh?" He turned and began to walk away, the others following. "Tell me."
Thranduil took a deep breath. Even Haldir was listening intently. He hadn't yet heard what the elf-lord had planned.
But, before he could speak, they began to descend a steep and winding staircase. "Wait, tell me when we reach the bottom," said Saruman.
* * *
Black spots danced in Legolas' vision, and shadow crept into the corners of his eyes. But he struggled against the darkness and stayed awake. Nifien was singing softly to him, and he gradually recognized the tune, and his raspy voice joined the melody.
* * *
Lost in memories
Forgotten things wander
Where angels have settled
And ghosts gone yonder
Soft notes of faint song drifted up the steep stairs. Thranduil's sharp ears picked up the words, but he couldn't identify the voices.
Petals of roses
Died in the frost
Litter the roads
The forgotten of crossed
Lower and lower they descended. Now Thranduil could make out a male and female voice.
The sky is light
In the east of this place
Western, t'is dark
Stars, moons embrace
Legolas was singing. It was a song he had taught his son, and his father had taught him.
Dragons and elves
At peace with all other
Water and fire
Equal each other
Suddenly, Legolas cried out. Saruman had silently used his spell on his burns again. But after a slight pause, both he and the female continued their song, though the sound was quieter and weaker.
Victims of death
Loveless, alone
Claimed this land
Of memory home
Finally they reached the end of the staircase. Haldir gasped at the sight of Legolas' burnt and spoiled legs. This was not merely injuring, this was maiming. There was also another, shackled in chains. A she-elf.
Thranduil blocked all emotion from his mind and face. He had to be strong, now more than ever. Saruman turned to face the elf-lord.
"Here is your son." He indicated to Legolas. "I have cast a spell so that neither he nor his friend can see or hear us. That way the decision cannot become biased again."
Haldir raged inwardly. What did he mean, biased? Without Legolas' voice? Without him even knowing? That was what was biased.
Thranduil spoke. "Will you take my life for their freedom?"
Saruman looked interested. "You have an intriguing proposal. But tell me, what good would it do?"
Thranduil hated to say this, but he had to convince Saruman, or his son would never see the light of the stars again. "My kingdom has long since been under my command. All my sons are off on errands, and there would be none to govern in my place. My realm would become weak without my rule."
Saruman nodded thoughtfully. What he had said was true, it would weaken Mirkwood. Thranduil's realm would be easier to take in all the confusion. "Very well."
"You must set free both of them. The she-elf and Legolas."
"I know, I know. The girl is of no worth to me, take her along with your precious son."
Thranduil turned to face Haldir. Horror was written all over his friend's face, horror and confusion. "Listen to me, Haldir." Haldir nodded. "Take them back to Lothlorien and get them help. Make sure all is done to aid their wounds. Tell Legolas that I love him. Send word to my other sons. And make sure it is known that it is not Legolas' fault." He said this last part with extra force. "Both he and his brothers need to know that."
Thranduil sighed. Haldir's face hadn't changed, but he nodded in bleak understanding. The elf-lord smiled down at his friend. "Don't worry, Haldir. I've lived in this world long enough. Legolas still has a life to be lived."
The two held each other's gaze for what felt like forever. A silent conversation seemed to take place within their eyes. Promises were made, memories relived, apologies made and accepted.
Saruman's two hands placed themselves on either side of Thranduil's head. The elves didn't look away from each other. Saruman tilted Thranduil's head to the side, and snapped his neck.
Haldir fought back a cry, struggled against his own tears.
"Now, go and get your prince, retrieve your elf maiden. I don't want to ever see them again." Disgust lined Saruman's words. Haldir tore his eyes from his friend's body, and ran over to Legolas.
"Legolas, Legolas, can you hear me?" he whispered frantically. Legolas rolled his head upwards, but his eyelids were drooping, and he didn't seem to understand what was happening.
Nifien suddenly was standing behind Haldir, her wrists unchained. Haldir lifted Legolas' dangerously thin figure into his arms, trying his best not to agitate his wounds, but still provoking soft moans and cries from the elf. He turned to Nifien, sorrow lingering in his eyes, glistening with unshed tears.
"Follow me," he choked out.
He raced past Saruman, following the path they had come. He broke into the sunlight, and squinted against the sudden contrast in brightness from the dreary dungeons. Tears blurred his vision as he starred down at the now unconscious Legolas. He felt the she-elf's presence close behind him.
Now he could cry. Salty, bitter tears rolled from his eyes, flying behind him. He wept, and wept, for as long as they ran, it all became a blur. But he starred down at Legolas' frail, maimed figure. Bruises and cuts across his face, his chest and torso decorated with healing scars, and his legs devastatingly, cruelly mutilated. But somehow, the elf remained beautiful and fair in all his suffering; and that seemed to bring on more tears. How could this happen to so innocent and fair a being?
"Namarie, Thranduil," he sobbed amidst the ramblings of thoughts racing through his mind. Unconsciously, his pace quickened as Lothlorien came into view, just as the sun began to descend and twilight began to fall.
The sky grew red on the horizon. Deep, deep shades of crimson and scarlet, as a sign of the blood spilt that day. Then the world passed into night, and the trees of Lothlorien welcomed the runners back into the long, and welcoming safety in their shadows.
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Yay, I had the best birthday! I got a big Legolas poster, a couple cards with Legolas on them, and a book: The Languages of Tolkien's Middle Earth. So hopefully I can start incorporating elvish in there. Also I now have 4 empty notebooks.I think my friends really want me to start writing something.
The song was my own original work, an old poem I discovered. All the songs on here are. On with the reviews! Huge thanks to melissa greenleaf, little- lost-one!
Ankesanamun: Dude, your name's hard to spell. But really, the prospect of him singing scares you? Hm. Cuz in the books, that's basically all he does! Sing and be hyper! And run around on snow while shooting arrows at things!
Erhothwen: Whoa, multilingual! I wonder what happy birthday is in elvish . . .
Lady of Dreams: I get all the spoilers for movies from my friend. And yes, that was a bit of a transition chapter. I really wasn't in the mood for writing too much misery, and going too deep, but I knew I had to update. And yes, political cartoons suck.
Merrylyn: It's the all-seeing reviewer! Good foresight. And reviews do help me when I'm blue, so you DID return the favour, be happy! *starts singing * Don't worry, be happy! Dooooooo do do do do do . . . .
Elven-fae: I think I read your fic after getting this review..I'm a bit forgetful, so go ahead and bite me if I didn't review or anything, but I believe I did. And cakes are good. Yummy.
Lady of the Forest: COOL BIRTHDAY GIFT! *snoopy dance * I love you!
Legolasluver: Hm, set on world domination, are you? We can convert them all to sadists and everyone can have pointy ears and wear cloaks and have long beautiful hair and HAVE COOL KNIVES AND BOWS AND ARROWS AND *rants on for 40 years *
Princess-yumin: Dude, if you thought the last chapter was bad, I wonder what's going through your head now . . . And no worries, no review is pointless. Hope you feel better and get out of your slump, and that life lightens its load! Life is a fickle thing. They all say rough times only make us stronger. What they don't say is the strength it takes to get through them in the first place. Have hope, and damn the work loads! Beat textbooks with a stick!
Kate: Dude, it's like the conspiracy of the cookies! People keep giving me cookies; I even got a birthday card with Snoopy dancing with cookies in his arms! Are you trying to fatten me up? ARE YOU? *Gets really really insane * Okay, back to normal . . .erm . . .you know what I mean. But yes, I get complaints for being on the computer/internet too long. It's a fact of life.
The Dark Rogue: Once again, almost typed rouge. I have a problem with that. Hm, the Autobiography of Legolas Greenleaf, you say? Interesting! Enough excitement for you? Don't want you people getting bored! You can post my fic on your website, as long as you give me the full credit and mention that I wrote it and everything. Thanks for asking permission first. And don't allow anyone else to take it!
Lia Strife: Okay, first of all, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Everyone wish Lia Strife a happy birthday! We love you!
That's all for now! See you next time! I must go mope now because series finale of Buffy is tomorrow.
~Searcher of Souls~
A/N: Hello, I'm back again! Creative chapter title, no? *wink * Thank you all for reviewing, great birthday gifts! And wow, 212 reviews?! I can't thank you guys enough! *faints * Thank you so much for reviewing! I appreciate everything, good and bad, flame and flattery! Tell me how I'm doing! Now, this chapter I DID make longer! Yay! Have fun! This chapter should have a slightly higher rating due to violence. It starts out pretty bad. I'm not particularly happy with the start, but whatever. It gets somewhat better as it progresses.
* * *
Legolas' eyes snapped open. He had been dreaming again, about his father; about how his father hated him. No part of him wanted to believe that. But part of him took it into consideration.
Nifien was sleeping soundly. He tried not to be angry, but he couldn't help but feel jealous that nothing had happened to her, and everything he could imagine had befallen him. For what purpose did Saruman even keep her here? He had no use of her.
Legolas looked around. From what he could make out, he and Nifien were the only prisoners. Vaguely, his mind began to drift. He remembered the towering mallorn trees of Lothlorien, the sunset, the sunrise; for in his world before this, the sun had always risen, the stars had always shone. The birds had sung happily and the trees had welcomed his presence. What he would give to have one more day in that life! One more day, one hour, one minute; anything!
"Why are you crying?"
The question was flat, no compassion, no feeling in the voice whatsoever. Just a question. Legolas turned his face to Nifien. Nothing glimmered in her face, unless it was annoyance.
Legolas almost laughed. He felt himself smile a crazed grin. "How could you not?" Now he laughed. "My father, my friends, they all hate me. They all will just leave me here. And I'll remain forever, never to see the trees again, never to love, never to be loved . . ." He shook his head, and let it drop into his hands. "I'll remain for eternity, in the dark, drowning in my own blood, but never quite dying." Anger rose in his voice. "Is that reason enough to cry?"
Nifien shrugged. "I guess."
Legolas loathed how he could give up so easily. He hated how he sought pity and help from his friends even when before he wouldn't accept either in any situation. But there seemed nothing else to do. There was nothing left to live for, no reason for him to go on. But he knew, were he to try and take his own life, he couldn't do it. Life was a precious thing, though wretched.
"Little elfling," the all to familiar voice rose from the dark. Legolas felt himself pale. "Don't be so sad. Soon you'll be free again."
Legolas furrowed his brow. What was that supposed to mean?
Suddenly, Saruman was standing beside Legolas, peering down at him. "Do you remember what I told you once about orcs?"
It took a moment for Legolas to register the thought. He had been trying to forget everything Saruman had told him.
"They were elves once. Do you remember me saying that to you?"
Oh, how he did. He clapped his hands over his ears. Saruman leaned down and forced them away, putting force especially on the broken one.
"Tortured, mutilated, broken elves. A twisted and terrible form of life. Morgoth created them to breed on their own. But, seeing as you're not going anywhere . . ." Saruman knelt down, so that he was bent, face to face with the terrified elf, "I've always thought that an orc made directly from an elf would be stronger."
Legolas couldn't tear his eyes from Saruman's dark, black pits. He knew he was crying. He could feel the tears. He could feel Saruman's delight at his terror. It radiated from the Istar, like the elven glow that Legolas had long since lost.
Saruman yanked Legolas upwards by his hair in one swift movement. He let ago, letting Legolas find his balance on his own. But the elf's mutilated legs refused to hold his light weight, and crumpled beneath him. Legolas winced as his body hit the floor.
"Stand up, little elf," Saruman commanded.
Where his tears came from, Legolas didn't know. He would have thought that he had no more left to cry. But still he felt the salty fluid poor from his terrified eyes. He braced himself against the wall, and painfully hauled himself to his feet, leaning against the stone heavily. Even that movement had caused his breath to become laboured.
"Good, very good, elfling." Legolas shuddered at Saruman's pleased tone. The wizard approached Legolas slowly, but the elf backed away, his feet fumbling in panic. But Saruman came fast, and scratched Legolas across his face with his long, sharp fingernails. Four thin, yet painful strips of scarlet materialized on Legolas' face, and he clutched it with his one hand, using the other one to steady himself on the wall.
"Don't try to run, little elf, it will only worsen things."
Saruman reached to a nearby torch. A long iron rod had been resting there, absorbing the flame's heat. He brandished it, showing it to Legolas. The red metal reflected in the elf's blue orbs, wide in distress.
"You know this weapon, don't you? You've experienced it before." Legolas stumbled backwards, and fell to the ground again. "Don't run, little elf, it will do you no good."
Saruman searched the elf for his weaknesses. He laughed to himself. Every inch of his body holds a weakness, he thought. But he knew what would hurt. He knew what would make the elf scream.
The wizard lunged at Legolas, and pressed the iron hard against his leg. All the crusted blood seemed to melt, and the skin underneath the iron sizzled and gave way deeper and deeper. The cuts scattered over his flesh spilt more blood. Legolas' body writhed on the ground, crying out in terrible misery.
Suddenly, Saruman withdrew the iron. He had driven it deep into Legolas' flesh, so that now the bone was exposed.
"You didn't like that, did you, elfling." Saruman listened to the elf's rapid, panicked breathe. "You should be stronger."
He swung the iron down and struck Legolas' exposed bone hard. A long, icy scream erupted from Legolas' mouth. As the iron remained there, burning away at his leg, he cried all over again.
"My, you are weak, little prince."
"No, no, please, just get it off, NO! GET IT OFF OF ME!" he sobbed. Legolas' arms flailed at the long iron rod, trying to pull it away, but Saruman only pressed harder as he struggled. Suddenly, he brandished it above his head again, and struck Legolas in the same place. The elf cried out terribly as he heard the bone crack.
All of a sudden, a great light flared up. Legolas' leggings had caught fire. Saruman withdrew his weapon, and stood idly by as Legolas batted at the flame with his bare hands, trying desperately to put it out as his tears evaporated in the heat and his sobbing and wailing was lost in the Istar's laughter.
An orc appeared at Saruman's side. It stood laughing in mirth for a while as it stared at Legolas' agony. Saruman turned to him. "What is it now?"
"Two elves have been spotted running towards Orthanc," the orc replied, still grinning.
Saruman grinned. He glanced over to Legolas, who had now put out the fire and was nursing his badly burnt leg and blistered hands. "I will come and greet them personally."
Legolas looked upwards, only hearing Saruman's last quote. Saruman looked down in false sympathy. "Poor little elf, you are so, so scared." He kicked Legolas in the stomach, winding him. He doubled over. "I'll be back for you." The wizard followed the orc away.
Legolas slid to the ground. "Elbereth save me!" he cried out. He found he couldn't cry any more tears, but still he felt his heart sinking; drowning.
"Why didn't you fight back?"
Legolas clenched his fists, and winced at the pressure on the blisters. How could that be all she could say? He wanted to scream at her, he wanted to knock sense into her, but he wouldn't. He couldn't.
"Why are you so heartless?" he sighed. "Do you care for nothing? How do you not feel?"
Nifien sighed. A moment of silence elapsed. For a while Legolas thought she wasn't going to say anything. "When a was just a child, I was taken by orcs. I was brought here. I went through everything imaginable, but I escaped. My parents, my friends all turned on me. They wouldn't accept me again. They said they couldn't trust me anymore, and that I was too different. That was long, long, long ago. Ever since I've wandered this world, alone. I have been through things you'll never know. I've seen things that were never meant for any living thing to set eyes on. Over time, it hardens one's heart to the point of ice." Legolas only then heard her sniff quietly. She was crying. "And for that, I have always hated myself."
Silence. Silence in exhaustion and disbelief.
"I'm sorry, Nifien, I . . ."
"No, that's alright. It feels good to have someone to talk to." The chains that suspended Nifien's arms above her head clattered as she shifted her weight. "When I first saw you, I really, really wanted to help you, but my mind closed those thoughts away, and I became the cold hearted girl I've always been. But I also realized that you are strong." Legolas raised his eyes to meet hers, confused. "I saw others fall. I saw others break; others give up and let death overcome them. But you don't."
Legolas smiled in the dark. If he could believe that, he would. If he were not so broken already, he would have believed in what was true. Some part of him knew Nifien was telling the truth. But to know is not to believe; to believe is to know.
Saruman watched the two from afar. He frowned at how Legolas' mind had been distracted from his pain. He muttered some ancient words, walked close to Legolas. Legolas didn't move or notice. Saruman smiled. He muttered some more words and waved his staff.
Suddenly Legolas cried out, and clutched his burnt leg. It was as if the fire had started all over again, eating away at his flesh. Tears of pain welled up in his eyes uncontrollably. But there was nothing he could do to stop the burning. He brought his other leg to his chest and rocked back and forth.
* * *
"You've returned sooner than I had expected you, Thranduil." Saruman greeted Haldir and the elf-lord. "Have you reconsidered my offer?"
Thranduil glared daggers at Saruman. "No," he stated flatly. "But I have an offer to make you."
Saruman cocked an eyebrow in interest. "Oh?" He turned and began to walk away, the others following. "Tell me."
Thranduil took a deep breath. Even Haldir was listening intently. He hadn't yet heard what the elf-lord had planned.
But, before he could speak, they began to descend a steep and winding staircase. "Wait, tell me when we reach the bottom," said Saruman.
* * *
Black spots danced in Legolas' vision, and shadow crept into the corners of his eyes. But he struggled against the darkness and stayed awake. Nifien was singing softly to him, and he gradually recognized the tune, and his raspy voice joined the melody.
* * *
Lost in memories
Forgotten things wander
Where angels have settled
And ghosts gone yonder
Soft notes of faint song drifted up the steep stairs. Thranduil's sharp ears picked up the words, but he couldn't identify the voices.
Petals of roses
Died in the frost
Litter the roads
The forgotten of crossed
Lower and lower they descended. Now Thranduil could make out a male and female voice.
The sky is light
In the east of this place
Western, t'is dark
Stars, moons embrace
Legolas was singing. It was a song he had taught his son, and his father had taught him.
Dragons and elves
At peace with all other
Water and fire
Equal each other
Suddenly, Legolas cried out. Saruman had silently used his spell on his burns again. But after a slight pause, both he and the female continued their song, though the sound was quieter and weaker.
Victims of death
Loveless, alone
Claimed this land
Of memory home
Finally they reached the end of the staircase. Haldir gasped at the sight of Legolas' burnt and spoiled legs. This was not merely injuring, this was maiming. There was also another, shackled in chains. A she-elf.
Thranduil blocked all emotion from his mind and face. He had to be strong, now more than ever. Saruman turned to face the elf-lord.
"Here is your son." He indicated to Legolas. "I have cast a spell so that neither he nor his friend can see or hear us. That way the decision cannot become biased again."
Haldir raged inwardly. What did he mean, biased? Without Legolas' voice? Without him even knowing? That was what was biased.
Thranduil spoke. "Will you take my life for their freedom?"
Saruman looked interested. "You have an intriguing proposal. But tell me, what good would it do?"
Thranduil hated to say this, but he had to convince Saruman, or his son would never see the light of the stars again. "My kingdom has long since been under my command. All my sons are off on errands, and there would be none to govern in my place. My realm would become weak without my rule."
Saruman nodded thoughtfully. What he had said was true, it would weaken Mirkwood. Thranduil's realm would be easier to take in all the confusion. "Very well."
"You must set free both of them. The she-elf and Legolas."
"I know, I know. The girl is of no worth to me, take her along with your precious son."
Thranduil turned to face Haldir. Horror was written all over his friend's face, horror and confusion. "Listen to me, Haldir." Haldir nodded. "Take them back to Lothlorien and get them help. Make sure all is done to aid their wounds. Tell Legolas that I love him. Send word to my other sons. And make sure it is known that it is not Legolas' fault." He said this last part with extra force. "Both he and his brothers need to know that."
Thranduil sighed. Haldir's face hadn't changed, but he nodded in bleak understanding. The elf-lord smiled down at his friend. "Don't worry, Haldir. I've lived in this world long enough. Legolas still has a life to be lived."
The two held each other's gaze for what felt like forever. A silent conversation seemed to take place within their eyes. Promises were made, memories relived, apologies made and accepted.
Saruman's two hands placed themselves on either side of Thranduil's head. The elves didn't look away from each other. Saruman tilted Thranduil's head to the side, and snapped his neck.
Haldir fought back a cry, struggled against his own tears.
"Now, go and get your prince, retrieve your elf maiden. I don't want to ever see them again." Disgust lined Saruman's words. Haldir tore his eyes from his friend's body, and ran over to Legolas.
"Legolas, Legolas, can you hear me?" he whispered frantically. Legolas rolled his head upwards, but his eyelids were drooping, and he didn't seem to understand what was happening.
Nifien suddenly was standing behind Haldir, her wrists unchained. Haldir lifted Legolas' dangerously thin figure into his arms, trying his best not to agitate his wounds, but still provoking soft moans and cries from the elf. He turned to Nifien, sorrow lingering in his eyes, glistening with unshed tears.
"Follow me," he choked out.
He raced past Saruman, following the path they had come. He broke into the sunlight, and squinted against the sudden contrast in brightness from the dreary dungeons. Tears blurred his vision as he starred down at the now unconscious Legolas. He felt the she-elf's presence close behind him.
Now he could cry. Salty, bitter tears rolled from his eyes, flying behind him. He wept, and wept, for as long as they ran, it all became a blur. But he starred down at Legolas' frail, maimed figure. Bruises and cuts across his face, his chest and torso decorated with healing scars, and his legs devastatingly, cruelly mutilated. But somehow, the elf remained beautiful and fair in all his suffering; and that seemed to bring on more tears. How could this happen to so innocent and fair a being?
"Namarie, Thranduil," he sobbed amidst the ramblings of thoughts racing through his mind. Unconsciously, his pace quickened as Lothlorien came into view, just as the sun began to descend and twilight began to fall.
The sky grew red on the horizon. Deep, deep shades of crimson and scarlet, as a sign of the blood spilt that day. Then the world passed into night, and the trees of Lothlorien welcomed the runners back into the long, and welcoming safety in their shadows.
* * *
Yay, I had the best birthday! I got a big Legolas poster, a couple cards with Legolas on them, and a book: The Languages of Tolkien's Middle Earth. So hopefully I can start incorporating elvish in there. Also I now have 4 empty notebooks.I think my friends really want me to start writing something.
The song was my own original work, an old poem I discovered. All the songs on here are. On with the reviews! Huge thanks to melissa greenleaf, little- lost-one!
Ankesanamun: Dude, your name's hard to spell. But really, the prospect of him singing scares you? Hm. Cuz in the books, that's basically all he does! Sing and be hyper! And run around on snow while shooting arrows at things!
Erhothwen: Whoa, multilingual! I wonder what happy birthday is in elvish . . .
Lady of Dreams: I get all the spoilers for movies from my friend. And yes, that was a bit of a transition chapter. I really wasn't in the mood for writing too much misery, and going too deep, but I knew I had to update. And yes, political cartoons suck.
Merrylyn: It's the all-seeing reviewer! Good foresight. And reviews do help me when I'm blue, so you DID return the favour, be happy! *starts singing * Don't worry, be happy! Dooooooo do do do do do . . . .
Elven-fae: I think I read your fic after getting this review..I'm a bit forgetful, so go ahead and bite me if I didn't review or anything, but I believe I did. And cakes are good. Yummy.
Lady of the Forest: COOL BIRTHDAY GIFT! *snoopy dance * I love you!
Legolasluver: Hm, set on world domination, are you? We can convert them all to sadists and everyone can have pointy ears and wear cloaks and have long beautiful hair and HAVE COOL KNIVES AND BOWS AND ARROWS AND *rants on for 40 years *
Princess-yumin: Dude, if you thought the last chapter was bad, I wonder what's going through your head now . . . And no worries, no review is pointless. Hope you feel better and get out of your slump, and that life lightens its load! Life is a fickle thing. They all say rough times only make us stronger. What they don't say is the strength it takes to get through them in the first place. Have hope, and damn the work loads! Beat textbooks with a stick!
Kate: Dude, it's like the conspiracy of the cookies! People keep giving me cookies; I even got a birthday card with Snoopy dancing with cookies in his arms! Are you trying to fatten me up? ARE YOU? *Gets really really insane * Okay, back to normal . . .erm . . .you know what I mean. But yes, I get complaints for being on the computer/internet too long. It's a fact of life.
The Dark Rogue: Once again, almost typed rouge. I have a problem with that. Hm, the Autobiography of Legolas Greenleaf, you say? Interesting! Enough excitement for you? Don't want you people getting bored! You can post my fic on your website, as long as you give me the full credit and mention that I wrote it and everything. Thanks for asking permission first. And don't allow anyone else to take it!
Lia Strife: Okay, first of all, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Everyone wish Lia Strife a happy birthday! We love you!
That's all for now! See you next time! I must go mope now because series finale of Buffy is tomorrow.
~Searcher of Souls~