Title: Regret

Summery: When you lose a friend to death, it is tragic, but what if you lost them before you got the chance to say, "I'm sorry." Could you live with that?

Note: I'm sorry it took me so long to update, but I will be posting chapters more frequently from now on. I want to thank all the readers and the reviewers for giving my story a read, and I hope you will continue to do so until the very end of the story. This one is a lot shorter than the last two have been, but the next one is a long one again, and that should be up no later than Tuesday. Anyhoo, read on……

Chapter twelve

The pain in Legolas' throat was increasing, and he was falling more than occasionally as he was forced to follow after Jevinx on horseback. More than anything, the prince wanted to grip at his throat to check the damage that was being done, but the ropes holding his arms behind his back prevented him from doing so. He could feel that his lips were starting to go dry, and though he was managing to bring in limited amounts of air, the amounts he did, were painful and felt like blades as they entered his lungs.

They had been walking for hours since the attack had been made on Piong, and when Legolas had made the deal to take in the foul liquid. And though the prince was regretting the fact that he willingly opened his mouth for Jevinx to pour the acid in, not for a second was he remorseful for making the choice he had. Piong had been a role model and a second father to him since before he could remember, and there was no chance that he was going to let anything happen to the elf. He would die first.

"That was a nice trick you played back there, elf boy" a cackling voice echoed, causing Legolas to look up at the man speaking to him. It was Hirid, and the man had used a strip of clothing as an eye patch for where the prince had wounded him with the pin. "I'd like to see you try that again."

"It would be my pleasure," Legolas wanted to spit back, but all he managed to form were stuttered mumbles, and upon hearing he elf's attempt, Hirid couldn't help but laugh. "Having trouble talking are you? Ah that's too bad, I guess that means, you'll be having trouble calling for help as well," he mocked, as he gave the prince a sharp kick to the calve. The blow made Legolas stumble as he let out a moan in protest, but he refused to allow his body to fail him, and he remained on his feet, and quickly rose his head so that he and Hirid were face to face again.

"You want some more?" Hirid laughed, "well that's fine with me," he finished, as he took another shot at the slender and already bruised cheek of the battered prince.

This time, the impact of the fist, combined with the agonizing feeling of burning flowing through his veins, became to much for the elf to handle, an he felt his body collapse underneath him, as he fell to his knees on the pebbled floor. He could hear the man's laughter as he struggled to get back to his feet, when out of nowhere he received yet another kick to his aching back, sending him down once again.

"Do that again, and I'll ring your neck!" Both Hirid and Legolas heard the voice of another man boom, as he walked over and took a firm grip on Hirid arm, exaggerating his threat. "I was just playing with him, Aleic. He stabbed me in the bloody eye for crying out loud," Hirid explained, a little unsure as to why it was Aleic who stopped him, instead of Jevinx, who he now recognized to not be riding the steed Legolas was tied to.

"You'll kill him, if you continue like you are" Aleic replied, as he gave Legolas, who was now on his knees again, a look over. "Why do you care all of a sudden?" Hirid shot back, "you're not getting soft are you?" Aleic forced a laugh to escape, "of course not, you fool. But do you really want that poison Jevinx gave to him to be put to waste? The captain will have your head, and not to mention the boss' reaction when he finds out, that you wasted the prince like this."

There was a pause between all three of the beings after Aleic spoke, and Legolas found himself becoming more and more confused. He had thought Jevinx to be the leader of this group, and now it seemed that there was another, one that even Jevinx answered to, and Legolas had the distinct feeling that he would be meeting this man, and very soon.

"Help him up," Aleic ordered when the horse's pace was beginning to drag the prince along the ground. Hirid was at first hesitant, but after seeing the seriousness in the other man's eyes, he complied, and reached down to give the elf a hand in standing up. However, his efforts were in vane, and Legolas shrugged the man's hand off of his arm, and though it took him longer than usual, he forced himself to stand on his own, and avoided any eye contact with Hirid, but instantly rested his grey eyes on the blue ones of Aleic.

"Get yourself moving" the man ordered in a soft tone, as they locked eyes, and tried to read what the other was thinking, but at the same time, trying to keep their guard up, as to not let the other do the same to them. However the moment was abruptly broken when the loud call of Jevinx was heard by all within the cavern,

"Who is there?" he shouted to the figure he saw in the distance, "show yourself!"

As the figure stepped out of the darkness, all drew their weapons, and prepared themselves to go to combat with whoever had found them, and their path. Even Legolas and Piong became slightly nervous when the figure continued to approach and eventually spoke in a deep and demanding tone.

"What's wrong, Jevinx? Don't you recognize me?"

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"You didn't have to come," Aragorn assured, as he and Elrohir walked with all speed towards the cavern that the man and Glorfindel had found earlier, with the other man that had decided to join them in their quest.

"I made you a promise, Strider," Kip began as he hurried to keep up with the brothers that were walking with a lot more speed than he had ever seen used before. "I said I'd help you catch the ones ho did this, and I always keep my word. Besides, you're not the only one who has a friend out there, and I intend to help bring them all home, safe and sound."

Elrohir could not help but let a small smile cover his stressed features, "are all humans this stubborn?" he jested, causing even Aragorn to smirk. "Yes, I believe so," he replied, as he patted both of his companions on the shoulders, and continued to walk his fast pace.

Finding out that the body was not Legolas' was the best news he had gotten in days, and he couldn't help but become filled with a tremendous amount of new found hope. He knew that his friend was out there somewhere, and was waiting to be found. Aragorn knew that he needed to find the prince quickly, for even though there was still a great chance of finding him this time, there was still the possibility that Legolas was hurt, or dying. But, Aragorn refused to believe that they might be too late to save him.

As the three friends finally reached the rock face once again, it was Elrohir who spoke first. "So this is the cavern?" Aragorn nodded, "yes, they went through here, I just know it," he concluded as he was the first to pass through the branches and take a step onto the hollowed out pathway, and was quickly followed by his fellow companions.

"Well I'm be," Elrohir exclaimed as he took a look around him, "you really found it." "Yes, now lets get moving, we have to catch up with them soon, before anything ill happens again."

There was a unified nod from all three travelers, and all broke into a sprint down the path, as they all prepared themselves for the journey ahead of them. There would be danger, that they knew, but the outcome was something that none would toss away. If there was a chance that they could bring down these men, and save the lives of those endangered, then there was nothing that they would not do, or sacrifice.

"Perhaps we will have a happy ending after all" Kip spoke with a new confidence, as he and the others let the smiles come once again.

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As the figure became recognizable to Jevinx and his men, they all lowered their weapons and let out breaths of relief as Jevinx formed a crooked smirk, and finally answered the approaching man's question.

"Ginyc! Where have you been?" he asked as the red haired man and he came face to face.

"I was getting rid of some of the rangers in the area," he began as he scanned the group before him. "I've been waiting for you for hours now," he started but paused when he rested his eyes upon Piong, and then he shot his vision over to where Legolas was still having trouble standing. "What is this?" he questioned, in a rage as he and Jevinx made their way over to the young elven prince.

"This would be Prince Legolas" Jevinx began proudly, but was quickly cut off by his companion. "Of Mirkwood?" "Yes, the only son of King Thranduil," Jevinx answered, but was agin interrupted by a very annoyed Ginyc. "And the dear friend of the one known as Strider," the older man added, causing all to lock their eyes on him, including Legolas and Piong who recognized the name spoke.

"Who is Strider?" Aleic asked as he took a step beside Jevinx, who looked just as puzzled has he did. Ginyc laughed at their idiocy. "Strider, is the adopted son of Lord Elrond, and a ranger at that. One of the best in fact. And he's out looking for his friend as we speak. You can bet that he will, if not already have all of Rivendell searching for these two," he continued as a small smile formed on Legolas' tired features.

Jevinx hated the new information that was given to him, it wasn't that he expected less, but the fact that the man before him could not understand his reasons for risking everything, and taking the prince into captivity. Roughly, he grabbed a hold of Legolas' golden hair and pulled him, so that the elf was between himself and Ginyc.

"His father killed mine, Ginyc, you know that. I will have my revenge, and there is nothing you can do to stop me." His words earned him a fast slap across the face, and a reply followed. "Watch to whom you speak that way, boy. I made you, and I can break you just as easily," Ginyc hissed, "and as far as revenge goes. You better be quick about it, for I guarantee you, that they will find you. Strider will find you, and when he does, it will be his wrath you shall have to face."

"Not if I kill him first" Jevinx assured with a grin that made the elven prince grow anxious yet again, and it only worsened as the man continued. "If you would be so kind, as to take him and the others to Plemith, I shall rid us of the ranger and meet you there."

Ginyc laughed, "you're a confident one, I'll give you that," he began, as he grabbed Legolas' forearm and took him off of the man's hands. "I will do as you wish, but I will not wait for you, if you die, it's your problem, not mine."

"I understand, sir," Jevinx replied, and quickly turned and started with all speed in the direction he and the others had come from. Leaving Legolas and Piong filled with worry and fear for what was to come.

"Hello there, your highness" Ginyc mocked as he shoved the prince back to the dirt covered ground, which was followed with a teasing poke with the point of his shoe, something Legolas did not take well to, and caused him to lunge forth at the man with all the strength he had left. He managed to get inches away from him before Hirid plunged his blade into Legolas' forearm, not deep enough to kill, but enough for it to cause the prince to cry out, and fall back to the floor.

"Let's get moving," Ginyc shouted, as he mounted the steed that had once been ridden by Jevinx, as Legolas bit his lip to conceal the pain he felt running all throughout his body. He managed to turn his head as he was pulled into movement once again, and as he watched the form of Jevinx disappear into the distance, he silently whispered a warning.

"Be careful Aragorn, and may the Valar protect you. For Iluvitar knows, that I cannot."

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To Be Continued………

I hope that this chapter didn't confuse anybody. I tried to make it clear, but who knows. I hope you all liked it though, and I'd love to hear what you think. The next chapter shall be up soon, and Aragorn will play a bigger part in that one than he did in this one. Anyways, until chapter 13, and I hope everybody is having fin on summer break! Ta Ta.