Hey all. Again thanks for the wonderful feedback. I was truly impressed with the number of death threats that Addrodoc has received, lol. You will all just have to line up to take your turns. Anyway, all your comments are making eLLe and I turn pink with excitement. I wanted to address just a couple of things:

The whole Addrodoc touching thing (which is unnerving a lot of you – and with reason). I just wanted to make sure you guys were not interpreting it on a sexual level – I mean if you really want to take it on that level then by all means go ahead, but that was not how we had intended it when we were writing. It is something beyond/above that. It is like when you get a new possession – something you had really wanted and you just can't believe your luck – and you just want to hug it, but yet at the same time don't want anyone else to touch it incase they break it. Does that make sense? It is an idea of ownership, of polishing your new car in the driveway to show it off. It is that sort of possessiveness. I hope that clarifies/relieves some of your anxieties. ^_^

*drops to knees and pleas for forgiveness* I know! I still have not updated 'Fading Hope'. Bad me! I have a bit written and I might just post that. I am just cramping up with writer's block on it. I am sorry. Eventually it will be finished. I have come way to far to give up on it now.

60 reviews! What can we say? WOW!

Chapter #4 ~ The Price of Being A God

Gimli snorted for the countless time in the past hour, the noise coming out sounding intentionally disdainful and loud, as he attempted to vent his frustrations as publicly as possible. Yet, the dwarf was somewhat disappointed with the reaction - which remained unimpressively absent. Not even Addrodoc seemed to bother himself with sending the dwarf hatful glares anymore. In fact, most people seemed to be thoroughly content ignoring Gimli completely.

The dwarf was not taking well to being so utterly disregarded.

Folding his arms stiffly across his broad chest, the dwarf narrowed his dark eyes till they became mere slits through which he watched the event angrily. Spluttering incoherent sentences, mere fragments of words, under his breath, Gimli observed the ritual while projecting as much skepticism upon the room as possible given the circumstances.

The main hall was filled with reverent people, who were silently kneeling upon the floor, their eyes closed in prayer. Some clutched small objects of devotion to their chests, the significance of which Gimli could not fathom, though at this point he cared little. At the far end of the hall sat Legolas. The elf watched the proceedings quietly, his body seeming to radiate confidence and grace. His form bearing such a striking resemblance to the stone figure at the shrine Gimli observed earlier, that one could almost believe the statue itself had come to life.

Addrodoc had once again donned his ceremonial robes. The man walked down the length of the hall watching the prayer session with smug satisfaction. As Gimli observed the priest, the dwarf could think of nothing he would like to do better than wipe that superior sneer from the man's face. Yet such a thing could not be done, Gimli reminded himself unhappily, at least not yet.

Finally, no longer being able to bear his stationary position, Gimli strode forward keeping close to the wall, and fast approaching the elf. The dwarf was still desperately clinging to the hope that something could be said or done to break through the unnatural power engulfing his friend, surely something could make the elf come to his senses. Sadly, Gimli knew not what. A part of him toyed with the idea that he could simply force the elf away from these people, sling him over Arod's back and ride off to safety, but the dwarf was not certain how this could be successfully accomplished.

Standing at the elf's side, the dwarf fumed silently for several minutes regarding his friend. Legolas finally returned his gaze. Taking pleasure in the silent victory, Gimli snorted.

"What, no light shows? No hocus-pocus? No wailing of your hands? You just sit here?" the dwarf inquired harshly.

The elf sighed, sending Gimli what could only be interpreted as a despairing glance. "They wish to honour me. It is the least I can do to let them."

"How noble," Gimli spat. "I am glad to hear you are doing this for their benefit and not your own."

"Sarcasm does not become you."

"Nor does Godhood you!"

"This is my destiny. It has been foretold," Legolas replied mechanically.

"ARG! Can you no longer even speak for yourself? Must you so dutifully regurgitate what that mad priest has said to you!?"

The elf seemed to have no answer for the question. Gimli assumed it was because such an inquiry diverged from the scripted words he had been permitted to say. Frustration boiled within Gimli. Roaring in exasperation and indignation, ignoring the shocked expressions that turned in his direction, Gimli stormed from the room. He needed to distance himself from the scene if only for a little while.

Entering the relative quietness of the outer hall, Gimli slammed his first down on the nearest available stone, ignoring th jolt of pain that resulted. If he thought at this point that ringing the life from Addrodoc's neck would help the situation, he would gladly do so. Yet what if the spell effecting the elf could only be lifted for by Addrodoc's hand?

Pacing back and forth, Gimli hardly noticed the single audience member he had gathered.

~*~

Legolas raged against unseen and invisible barriers. When he had first started to lose control of himself he had not realized it, so subtle was the continual loss, yet now he was very much aware of where he stopped, and the thing within him began. It was like being detached from oneself, yet still present within - his own body becoming a cage from which he could not escape. A piece of him, the part that had been utterly ruined and contaminated by Addrodoc's words and drink, placidly submitted to the human priest's will, while the rest of his soul was forced to witness the affects.

The elf had never felt more vulnerable or frustrated before, and his own lack of control over matters ignited a savage fury within him, making him beat his fists again the invisible walls that contained him. Breathing heavily, despite his outward calm, Legolas' eyes scanned over everything, a keen degree of panic building that he was no longer sure he could repress. He hated feeling trapped; closed in.

Yet, no matter what means he tried to employ, escape proved futile. He could not seem to get the chains upon him to recede even a little. Throwing himself again his restraints proved to only batter his shattering confidence and exterminate his hopes for freedom. It was a crushing loss - yet one Legolas refused to accept. In this battle for his soul, he could not accept the impossible odds that he faced.

Even as he watched Gimli storm from the room, Legolas felt another pillar removed from him. In his own confusion and dread the thought of Gimli abandoning him sent him into a cold sweat. He could not do this alone - a hard concession for the normally very independent elf to make.

What if the dwarf did simply leave? Their friendship was something that was still relatively new, and although during the quest they had learned to reply on one another Legolas was not sure how much that pact of comradery would last, given these circumstances. The elf tried to repress the thought, unsure of weather it was his own or merely the drug that had been given to him playing on his insecurities. He was never sure.

He had locked a part of himself away from that which sought to ensnare him completely, continued to try and fight it - yet he did not know how much of that fight was a mere illusion his mind fabricated as the process continued forward. His own lack of knowledge and intelligence was enough to make him scream in rage.

Then Addrodoc appeared, smiling that condescending, power filled smile. Legolas looked up at the standing human, wanting to simultaneously attack him and flee him. Though it grated much on the elf's pride, deep down he knew that he was afraid of this man who could control him, who looked upon him with crazed eyes, and who wished to make him into something the elf knew not. Yet neither of these impulses were carried through. The elf merely sat there docilely, looking up at the human with soft eyes that hid the raging storm beneath them.

"Here, my Lord. It is hot in here. Drink," the man prodded, and as the thing in charge of Legolas shifted his gaze down he was once again confronted with the amber liquid in a cup. No, his mind screamed trying to force his hand into stillness, even as it rose to accept the vile concoction. His felt his fingers close around the cool stem of the goblet, taking on its weight.

For a moment he paused completely, and Legolas felt a wave of jubilation well up within him at the thought that he might be at least somewhat in control yet. The glass remained frozen in the air, mid-way to his lips, hovering as it reflected his own uncertainty.

Addrodoc frowned. "You are very strong-willed, but I would expect nothing less from you. Why must you make this all so difficult?" he sighed, sounding as tired and weary as Legolas felt. Then, in mockingly slow motions, the human priest reached under the cup, helping the thing he was trying to create lift the goblet to Legolas' lips.

Legolas felt tears of frustration welling up in his eyes, tears of genuine fear, tears of self loathing and disgust that he could not be stronger, as the small piece of himself that had delayed the process lost its battle, and a sugary sweet taste slowly drifted into his mouth. No, he yelled his denial - trying to force himself to cough what he had in his mouth back out. Yet it was not to be. The thing made him swallow, and another part of himself became lost...

~*~

Gimli halted suddenly as he realized he was being watched. Swivelling quickly on his heels he turned sharply, only to stop in confusion as his gaze fell upon the young, spindly youth who had guided him to Arod's enclosure the night before. The boy stared back at him with wide sea-blue eyes, that seemed almost too large for his small angular face. For a moment neither said anything.

"Well?" Gimli finally bellowed. He had not meant to snap so, but he was angry and sleep deprived, and a situation he had once felt comfortable with was rapidly spiralling out of his control. All these people were his enemy, whether directly or indirectly.

The boy flinched, and he began to chew his bottom lip in slight apprehension. Then, as if he had just completely thrown his feet from beneath him, he collapsed to the floor at Gimli's feet, the resounding smack as he hit the stone floor making Gimli wince. The dwarf watched with resigned irritation as the child kissed the ground near his feet, before the blonde head once again rose slightly so that Rulif was not looking up at him from the floor.

"You are very sad. Sad, sad, sad," the boy mumbled quietly, sympathy shining in his expression.

Gimli's shoulders slumped as he lost some of the boiling energy that had been rising in him. Shaking his head slightly he beckoned for the youth to stand, certain that he could not deal with another servant remark today. His own pride was still stinging with injury.

"Yes, boy," he said dejectedly, "I am sad."

"For your master," Gimli stiffened as he was once again designated the roll of a servant, "for what he must give for us? For what he must do?"

"More like what has already been done to him," Gimli corrected airily, not really paying attention to what was being said, more concerned with his own situation.

"Ah," the boy replied seriously. "I see."

The two sunk down, sitting side by side, along one of the smooth, cool walls. They stared ahead, not really seeing what was in front of the them, and simply engrossed in their own thoughts.

"It will help us. Help make the land grow," the boy tried to explain, as if he thought Gimli did not understand the full picture.

"I know you believe that boy," Gimli said stiffly. "But my friend contains no magic. He wields none of the magical powers you would attribute to a god. I think as soon as you all fully realize this then this farce can end." This thought gave the dwarf some relief. Legolas would not be able to fulfill these peoples dreams and as soon as that happened, hopefully, they would no longer think him a god.

Rulif frowned; the boy's face scrunched in up into thought as he seriously debated Gimli's words. "What is this of magic? We want no magic from him."

Gimli froze upon hearing this. It had been a natural assumption to make that for Legolas to revive the land he would require some sort of magic - yet if that were not the case... the thoughts trailed off in confusion.

"Well what do you bloody well want from him?" Gimli said, unable to hide his irritation.

Rulif then turned his head so that he was looking at the dwarf. His eyes had once again adopted a sad, tragic sort of quality to them and Gimli felt his first real tinglings of fear. He suddenly realized that the situation had become much more dangerous then he had first supposed it to be. He sat straighter and looked back at the boy, hating the dely that came with the answer. He realized then he might be asking the wrong question, and haltingly he asked further,

"What is the Ritual of Regeneration?"

The boy frowned. "My mama said she does not like the ritual. It was not written of before Addrodoc became the high priest. It was only then that he discovered it in the ancient texts. She does not like Addrodoc. I think she is afraid of him - but when she starts talking, papa tells her to be quiet. That such talk is dangerous."

It somehow boosted the dwarfs spirits to know that not all in the town approved of the mad priest. "But the ritual, boy? What of the ritual?"

"At dusk - when the fire of the sun dies. When darkness once again stretches across the sky," the boy began, obviously repeating something he had been told often. "There upon the alter shall the sacrifice be made - and with the blood of creation, the blood of the Life-Giver, shall the earth bloom anew."

Reviewer Responces:

Sirithiliel ~ Hehehe. I can finally spell your name without checking to make sure I have done it correctly or not, lol. Took me long enough didn't it? I know what you mean about not finding the time to write. I have been kept very busy too. What with working, school and clubs. Poor Legolas. He just ha no control over the web of lies and drugs he has fallen into. LOL – thanks for offering to send in backup to help Gimli. The dwarf would be more then happy with the help since he too is over his head. Fading Hope is coming – I know I am saying that a lot but it is true, lol. So pleased I am your longest review yet, lol. Very honored.

merrylyn ~ LOL. Yeah. I have got this idea for a vignette about Legolas' first reaction to hearing Gimli snore in my head and I might actually write it up eventually. LOL. I could not help but include it. Yeah – I think it is very obvious now that Addrodoc is one sick puppy and that he is obsessed with for-filling this notion of the prophesy he has created. He is off his rocker. ROFL – you can borrow Legolas any day of the week and go swimming with him in the ivy pool room, lol. Yeah – poor Gimli is really taking the brunt of this worship thing, lol. It is really going to try the dwarf's patience – something he doesn't have in leaps and bounds as it is. Poor dwarf – but eLLe and I have come up with some really funny methods Gimli is going to employ to try and save Legolas – but I will say no more because I don't want to ruin the surprise. If you ever publish something I will buy a copy. I look forward to reading your piece. Thanks again for all your encouragement and, as always, hilarious review.

Jedi Cosmos ~ eLLe and I decided that we had to give you guys a real look as to what is going on in Legolas's head, to make you understand more fully that although a part of him is simply the numb zombie there is still the feisty elf we all know burning beneath the surface. Yeah – Addrodoc is *very* possessive of our elf – in a way that any power, hungry individual would be when he see the chance for advancement. It is very creepy I agree with you. What do you think of the final outcome of the ritual, lol. Bet it was not quite what you were expecting. *evil grin* Anyway there are only like four chapters left to go so soon everything will be wrapped up. Also thank-you so much for reviewing one of my vignettes! I am pleased you enjoyed it – it is probably the best thing I have written yet. Thanks for your continued support.

Ryoko: the Welsh Elf ~ Have I mentioned I love your pen name. It is really original. ROFL. Addrodoc is a girl in drag, huh? LOL. Now that is putting such a twist of the mental image I have of him. I understand about the research aspect of cult joining and I would gladly suffer beside you as an elf worshipping member – in the name of research, lol. Aren't we just a pair of selfless martyrs! ^_^

Bookworm2000 ~ Yep – evil guys always get the comeuppance – at least that is my experience. Poor Gimli. This is not his fic. Interesting theory about the drink wearing off. I love reading peoples guesses. I am always impressed by how many people are on the right track even when they don't realize it. Thanks for your continued reviews.

Manders1953 ~ LOL. Yes things are just falling apart now. But everything will be neatly wrapped up in four more chapters so don't worry the suspense can't last that much longer. ^_^

Lisette ~ YIPPEE! You came and reviewed this story. Yeah – poor Legolas – when he returns to normal (if he does) he is going to have some serious guilt issues. Poor elf. The things eLLe and I put him through. Your right on with the drink thing. As soon as Gimli realizes that things will improve drastically, don't you think, lol. You are probably right, Aragorn would certainly find some ways of forcing Legolas to return to his normal self – and as Aragorn is more of a healer he might recognize the signed that Legolas is being drugged more quickly then Gimli himself is. I agree with you completely that the god-like routine is sickening – lol – but it is crucial to the plot for now. Really funny that you would mention the knocking him out and carrying him out of town thing – since it was one the dwarfs thoughts in this chapter, lol and I wrote it just before I got your review. Anyway, I got a kick out of it. Thanks for your insights! ^_^

Elberethia ~ ROFL. You can have the shirt since Legolas did not want it. You should have heard the snorts he made when I started writing about it – and then he refused point blank to put it on for me… stubborn elf. Yeah – Addrodoc has got a few screws loose. He is a grade A wacko. Avenge away!

Pirate-chicha ~ I was having problems reviewing thing recently too. That is why I always type up my reviews in a word processor and then copy and paste so that way if they don't go through then I can just retry without losing what I wrote – because that is so frustrating. Yeah – poor Legolas is just no longer himself at all – poor Gimli with having to figure out a way to deal with him. I love long reviews so don't worry about 'blabbing', lol. I will try to update 'Fading Hope' soon. Thanks for your review.

Gwyn ~ LOL. Loved the good god remark. Yep – poor Gimli. He is completely saddled with a confused elf who thinks himself a deity. Poor dwarf. I am really glad you seem to be enjoying this that much. It means a lot to me… talking of updates… you aren't seriously going to abandon some of your stories, right? Your bio page was lying to me, wasn't it? I mean I don't mind that you take a while to update – just as long as you eventually finish your stories – but I guess a lot of your fans are telling you that, *sigh*. Well if you don't continue them I hope you keep posting more cute vignettes.

LalaithoftheBruinen ~ LOL. That sounded so urgent – as if your life depended on me updating, lol. I am glad you are enjoying it that much and I hope this chapter provided you with relief. *gobbles up plot bunnies* Thanks for the energy boost! ^_^

Star-Stallion ~ LOL. A photo shrine, huh? That must be something to see. ROFL. I agree with you completely… freaky is the *perfect* term for Addrodoc. Trust me – you are not the only person who is lusting after his blood, lol. Most of my reviewers seem to be foaming at the mouth at the mere thought of him. When the story is done you can have whatever remains of him, lol. Okay?

Shlee Verde ~ LOL. Yeah – Legolas is in desperate need of the dwarf help. You are right you know… I have not read many stories where Gimli is the hero. I had not thought of that. ^_^ I love that dwarf so I enjoy giving him the spot light from time to time. Glad you are enjoying it!

Karri ~ LOL – I have obsession with the notion of possession or mind alteration. I think it is fascinating – and I am glad you approve. Yes, Gimli is going to have to do something quickly if he wants Legolas to live through this, lol. The next chapter will answer more of those questions. Thanks for your review.

Artemisa ~ Exams every month!? Do you mind if I ask from where in the world you are from? You don't have to answer because it is a personal question I am just curious about what school system you are in. I am from Canada. ^_^ I am so pleased you liked that last chapter – as is eLLe. I love writing things that my regular reviewers enjoy – it makes it so much more rewarding – if that makes sense. Thanks for your review!

Rosie ~ You pushed us to the 60 review mark! Thanks so much. I was hoping one other person would review before I posted this chapter. Trust me when I say that you are not the only person who is detesting Addrodoc at the moment, lol. It seems most of my reviewers are foaming at the mouths and trying to kill him. Addrodoc actually translates into 'Gordon'. I went to one of those name translator sites and was typing in random guy names till I found one that I liked for the priest. ^_^