Hey all, happy the action has finally started? I guess now you can start
looking forward to the cliffhangers again. . . ::evil smile:: I know this
one's short, but I'll make up for it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~
Legolas had no recollection of the next three days. He woke up, on a cold, hard floor, in a very unfamiliar place with very unfamiliar people. Except one.
"Strider. . .?"
The ranger started. Legolas had not stirred in nearly a week. He put his hand on Legolas' chest. "I'm here."
The prince groaned lightly. "Where is here?"
"Evandael. How do you feel?"
"Like a regurgitated cave troll meal."
Aragorn laughed. "Well, I can see you have not lost your sense of sarcasm." He was ignoring the curious looks from those around him. "We are in the slave's dungeon, Legolas."
The prince slowly sat up, aided by his friend. He had not yet noticed the mass number of people. "How long have I been asleep?"
"Well. . . about ten days."
"Ten days?" He groaned again. Before he could say anything else, the door was thrown open.
"Kaenji, the mines. Now."
Legolas looked at the man who had spoken, wondering where he got off ordering the other young man around. The man turned and looked at Aragorn and Legolas.
"Good," an evil, familiar voice sneered. "You're awake. Get up."
Legolas did not move, still trying to fully understand what was happening.
"Sir, he only just woke up. His body is hungry and dehydrated. He cannot work today."
"He can and he will." He turned back to the elf prince. "Now get up."
Aragorn was about to protest again for his friend, but Legolas shook his head. Now fully aware of his surroundings, and slightly embarrassed, the elf rose. He did not need to be defiant today; his body would hate him for it.
"Kaenji, take him with you, and teach him our ways." A man stood at the other end of the room, and nodded slightly.
'No, I'm not ready for this, no, please no. . .' But Legolas walked forward in the man's wake. He was too groggy to try and fight this. The two slaves and Merithol left the room.
Aragorn sighed. A new friend leaned over. "I'm sure he'll be fine. Kaenji works where they are very little overseers."
"I hope so, Berin. I hope so." Aragorn did not relax. He worried for his friend. He did not know how much of the drug was still in his system. He did know that the overseers here were cruel and brutal, and he did know that Legolas would not be able to handle their abuse. He would surely receive it, too, for he would be defiant. He was also the only elf in the entire town. He said a quiet prayer to the Valar.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~
Kaenji, a young, tall, and lithe man looked at Legolas. He took note of the pointy ears. "We haven't seen any of your kind here before. As slaves, that is."
"I won't be a slave for long." Legolas kept his eyes on the ground.
The man wanted to tell the elf that everyone said that when they arrived, and none lived up to that goal, but he would not pull the elf's hopes down. "What's your story?"
"I don't have a story."
"Everyone here has a story. Jeralin married my mother. That was when I was 10. He killed her, and I've been here ever since. So, where're you from?"
"Mirkwood."
"Ah, I heard about you. You're the prince."
Legolas nodded. "How do you do this?"
"Do what?"
"Take orders all the time, swallow your pride and live like you're nothing?"
Kaenji looked Legolas in the eye. "In this place, there are a lot of people like me we have killed their emotions. Remember that."
"You two!" A sharp voice interrupted their conversation. "What are you doing?"
Legolas sighed as Kaenji replied, "We're leaving for the mines, sir."
"Very well then, move along."
Legolas shuddered as he felt the man's eyes linger upon him.
"See?" he whispered. "Keep your head down, say 'sir' a lot, and you'll do fine."
Legolas shook his head. "I can't do this. I can't handle this. I would rather die."
Kaenji stopped, grabbing Legolas violently by the shoulders. "Do not talk as such or it will come to pass. You do not have a choice. There is no way out of here, and if there is, I can bet it's being guarded."
He took in the panic of the elf's eyes, and softened his tone. "As long as you don't get your hopes up, you can take anything. You feel less pain, it makes it bearable."
"Don't get my hopes up? And what are you living for?"
The man sighed. "We've got nothing else to live for. . . our family. . . our homes. . . gone."
Legolas dropped his gaze. "I'm sorry."
"Just don't get your hopes up, kid."
"You're story ends when you let go of hope. We must never give up hope."
"Hope is a forsaken thought in this world. Your world is gone. 'Tis best to forget it before it lands you in a heap of trouble."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~
"Strider?" Berin whispered as they worked.
Aragorn threw another scimitar on the growing pile. "Yeah?"
"You look so downhearted today. What is it?"
"How can you work like this and not be downhearted?"
The older man leaned forward. "You haven't been, until today."
"It's Legolas. He doesn't like men, he doesn't liked caves, he doesn't like cells, and he is not the type that will bossed around."
"He'll learn soon enough. We all did."
"You don't know Legolas. He is so stubborn, and so full of pride. I was actually happier when he was unconscious, because he couldn't get himself into trouble that way."
"Kaenji will look after him as much as he can."
"Where are they working?"
"In the silver mines."
"Great," Aragorn mumbled, vaguely remembering that Merithol had said that. Just what Legolas needed- a mine.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~
Reviewers:
Angel With No Wings: Lol, no worries, I was only teasing ya.
SPEoD: Uhm, things have been really hectic around here. I'm trying to update quickly, but life has just gotten in the way. Yes, I bought Apollo. Are you competing in the show? If so, good luck! I won't be in any shows for a while. Oliver's retired, and Apollo is still too young and too green. Lol, polar opposites.
Halandleg4ever: Lol, because they're Legolas and Estel. . . does it need any more explanation?
Eve: Lol, I don't know why. I hate cliffies. Look, I left another, slightly smaller one. Lol.
Lomiothiel: In answer to your first three questions, look at my response to Halandleg4ever. Elfnapped, lol. Uhm, well, I can't tell you what they have planned, but you've been given clues already.
Gwyn: Lol, yes. He is a good guy! ! ! I fully believe that!
Deana: Lol, as soon as I can. Thanks! (My 38 ½ poor Legolas.)
Sky: Haha, no, they just keep finding new drugs. Will read your stuff soon.
Lulu Bell: Wow, that was one really long review. I live in the desert. It was 90* plus today. It's fall, why is it so hot? Lol, thanks again. My 39 ½ Poor Legolas/elf. We have a game tomorrow, but it should be a piece of cake. We're still undefeated. Jeez, sick, hurt, it's all the same. Great job on your last game, that's awesome!
ForceofHobbit: Uhm, okay, here's where I embarrass myself and admit that I don't actually know what Mithfalas means. I used the name generator at Barrow Downs and it popped back with that, and I did recognize the "leaf" on the end. So I figured, hey, that sounds like a good family name. One thing that I found said that it means "Grey Beach." That however does not sound right to me. It is a pretty common name outside of the books. I'm sorry. . . my knowledge is limited as well. I can only hold small, disjointed conversations. Thanks so much for the review!
F h c: Hm, your senses are working. . . wink wink.
Dimostiel: No apologies needed. Thanks!
Nenya: Ah, I forget, which ring is Nenya? Vilya is Elrond's, so Nenya is Galadriel's, isn't it? Yeah, that's right. I remember now. (Sheesh, it's been a long long week.) Mmmm, I respect everyone's opinions, but can I impart a quote from Christopher Tolkien? "Long afterwards my father would write, in a wrathful comment on a 'pretty' or 'ladylike' pictoral rendering of Legolas: 'He was tall as a young tree, lithe, immensely strong, able swiftly to draw a great war-bow and shoot down a Nazgûl, endowed with the tremendous vitality of Elvish bodies, so hard and resistant to hurt that he went only in light shoes over rock or through snow, the most tireless of all the Fellowship'." So, as you can guess, I don't find him to be ladylike. But what fun is it if everyone has the same opinions? Arwen does indeed make another appearance, in this story actually, as well as a bigger appearance in the next story. Funny you should ask about the Legolas/Arwen/Aragorn thing. . . ::wink:: No, honestly, thank you so much for your time and your wonderful review!
Das Blume: Holy monkeys, it will take me years to reply to this. (Not that I'm complaining, mind you.) Hi and goodbye, Monica! If you're pathetic for reading it, what am I for writing it, lol? Yeah, I read that essay too! I kind of follow the idea that he's about 800 years old, but it's just easier to portray a 100:1 ratio, using movie verse of yes you're right, 2,391. That would be about 24 human years, which is what he looked like. OMG, it was really late when I read your review the first time, and I was laughing so hard I was crying. "Now with a small town of men attached!" Lol, Legolas is like a hippie, with all the drugs! Haha, can't you see him at Woodstock, putting flowers in gun barrels and whatnot? Haha, "Please sit beside me!" That way he can keep his clean image and still get the effect. Ah, I'm a Yankees girl myself. They need to win the next two games! ! ! OMG, your dream, how funny is that? Gandalf would so be goalie. Lol, thanks for that really funny review!
ElvenRanger13: I can't tell you, sheesh. Ruin my plot. Thanks for the review!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~
Legolas had no recollection of the next three days. He woke up, on a cold, hard floor, in a very unfamiliar place with very unfamiliar people. Except one.
"Strider. . .?"
The ranger started. Legolas had not stirred in nearly a week. He put his hand on Legolas' chest. "I'm here."
The prince groaned lightly. "Where is here?"
"Evandael. How do you feel?"
"Like a regurgitated cave troll meal."
Aragorn laughed. "Well, I can see you have not lost your sense of sarcasm." He was ignoring the curious looks from those around him. "We are in the slave's dungeon, Legolas."
The prince slowly sat up, aided by his friend. He had not yet noticed the mass number of people. "How long have I been asleep?"
"Well. . . about ten days."
"Ten days?" He groaned again. Before he could say anything else, the door was thrown open.
"Kaenji, the mines. Now."
Legolas looked at the man who had spoken, wondering where he got off ordering the other young man around. The man turned and looked at Aragorn and Legolas.
"Good," an evil, familiar voice sneered. "You're awake. Get up."
Legolas did not move, still trying to fully understand what was happening.
"Sir, he only just woke up. His body is hungry and dehydrated. He cannot work today."
"He can and he will." He turned back to the elf prince. "Now get up."
Aragorn was about to protest again for his friend, but Legolas shook his head. Now fully aware of his surroundings, and slightly embarrassed, the elf rose. He did not need to be defiant today; his body would hate him for it.
"Kaenji, take him with you, and teach him our ways." A man stood at the other end of the room, and nodded slightly.
'No, I'm not ready for this, no, please no. . .' But Legolas walked forward in the man's wake. He was too groggy to try and fight this. The two slaves and Merithol left the room.
Aragorn sighed. A new friend leaned over. "I'm sure he'll be fine. Kaenji works where they are very little overseers."
"I hope so, Berin. I hope so." Aragorn did not relax. He worried for his friend. He did not know how much of the drug was still in his system. He did know that the overseers here were cruel and brutal, and he did know that Legolas would not be able to handle their abuse. He would surely receive it, too, for he would be defiant. He was also the only elf in the entire town. He said a quiet prayer to the Valar.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~
Kaenji, a young, tall, and lithe man looked at Legolas. He took note of the pointy ears. "We haven't seen any of your kind here before. As slaves, that is."
"I won't be a slave for long." Legolas kept his eyes on the ground.
The man wanted to tell the elf that everyone said that when they arrived, and none lived up to that goal, but he would not pull the elf's hopes down. "What's your story?"
"I don't have a story."
"Everyone here has a story. Jeralin married my mother. That was when I was 10. He killed her, and I've been here ever since. So, where're you from?"
"Mirkwood."
"Ah, I heard about you. You're the prince."
Legolas nodded. "How do you do this?"
"Do what?"
"Take orders all the time, swallow your pride and live like you're nothing?"
Kaenji looked Legolas in the eye. "In this place, there are a lot of people like me we have killed their emotions. Remember that."
"You two!" A sharp voice interrupted their conversation. "What are you doing?"
Legolas sighed as Kaenji replied, "We're leaving for the mines, sir."
"Very well then, move along."
Legolas shuddered as he felt the man's eyes linger upon him.
"See?" he whispered. "Keep your head down, say 'sir' a lot, and you'll do fine."
Legolas shook his head. "I can't do this. I can't handle this. I would rather die."
Kaenji stopped, grabbing Legolas violently by the shoulders. "Do not talk as such or it will come to pass. You do not have a choice. There is no way out of here, and if there is, I can bet it's being guarded."
He took in the panic of the elf's eyes, and softened his tone. "As long as you don't get your hopes up, you can take anything. You feel less pain, it makes it bearable."
"Don't get my hopes up? And what are you living for?"
The man sighed. "We've got nothing else to live for. . . our family. . . our homes. . . gone."
Legolas dropped his gaze. "I'm sorry."
"Just don't get your hopes up, kid."
"You're story ends when you let go of hope. We must never give up hope."
"Hope is a forsaken thought in this world. Your world is gone. 'Tis best to forget it before it lands you in a heap of trouble."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~
"Strider?" Berin whispered as they worked.
Aragorn threw another scimitar on the growing pile. "Yeah?"
"You look so downhearted today. What is it?"
"How can you work like this and not be downhearted?"
The older man leaned forward. "You haven't been, until today."
"It's Legolas. He doesn't like men, he doesn't liked caves, he doesn't like cells, and he is not the type that will bossed around."
"He'll learn soon enough. We all did."
"You don't know Legolas. He is so stubborn, and so full of pride. I was actually happier when he was unconscious, because he couldn't get himself into trouble that way."
"Kaenji will look after him as much as he can."
"Where are they working?"
"In the silver mines."
"Great," Aragorn mumbled, vaguely remembering that Merithol had said that. Just what Legolas needed- a mine.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~
Reviewers:
Angel With No Wings: Lol, no worries, I was only teasing ya.
SPEoD: Uhm, things have been really hectic around here. I'm trying to update quickly, but life has just gotten in the way. Yes, I bought Apollo. Are you competing in the show? If so, good luck! I won't be in any shows for a while. Oliver's retired, and Apollo is still too young and too green. Lol, polar opposites.
Halandleg4ever: Lol, because they're Legolas and Estel. . . does it need any more explanation?
Eve: Lol, I don't know why. I hate cliffies. Look, I left another, slightly smaller one. Lol.
Lomiothiel: In answer to your first three questions, look at my response to Halandleg4ever. Elfnapped, lol. Uhm, well, I can't tell you what they have planned, but you've been given clues already.
Gwyn: Lol, yes. He is a good guy! ! ! I fully believe that!
Deana: Lol, as soon as I can. Thanks! (My 38 ½ poor Legolas.)
Sky: Haha, no, they just keep finding new drugs. Will read your stuff soon.
Lulu Bell: Wow, that was one really long review. I live in the desert. It was 90* plus today. It's fall, why is it so hot? Lol, thanks again. My 39 ½ Poor Legolas/elf. We have a game tomorrow, but it should be a piece of cake. We're still undefeated. Jeez, sick, hurt, it's all the same. Great job on your last game, that's awesome!
ForceofHobbit: Uhm, okay, here's where I embarrass myself and admit that I don't actually know what Mithfalas means. I used the name generator at Barrow Downs and it popped back with that, and I did recognize the "leaf" on the end. So I figured, hey, that sounds like a good family name. One thing that I found said that it means "Grey Beach." That however does not sound right to me. It is a pretty common name outside of the books. I'm sorry. . . my knowledge is limited as well. I can only hold small, disjointed conversations. Thanks so much for the review!
F h c: Hm, your senses are working. . . wink wink.
Dimostiel: No apologies needed. Thanks!
Nenya: Ah, I forget, which ring is Nenya? Vilya is Elrond's, so Nenya is Galadriel's, isn't it? Yeah, that's right. I remember now. (Sheesh, it's been a long long week.) Mmmm, I respect everyone's opinions, but can I impart a quote from Christopher Tolkien? "Long afterwards my father would write, in a wrathful comment on a 'pretty' or 'ladylike' pictoral rendering of Legolas: 'He was tall as a young tree, lithe, immensely strong, able swiftly to draw a great war-bow and shoot down a Nazgûl, endowed with the tremendous vitality of Elvish bodies, so hard and resistant to hurt that he went only in light shoes over rock or through snow, the most tireless of all the Fellowship'." So, as you can guess, I don't find him to be ladylike. But what fun is it if everyone has the same opinions? Arwen does indeed make another appearance, in this story actually, as well as a bigger appearance in the next story. Funny you should ask about the Legolas/Arwen/Aragorn thing. . . ::wink:: No, honestly, thank you so much for your time and your wonderful review!
Das Blume: Holy monkeys, it will take me years to reply to this. (Not that I'm complaining, mind you.) Hi and goodbye, Monica! If you're pathetic for reading it, what am I for writing it, lol? Yeah, I read that essay too! I kind of follow the idea that he's about 800 years old, but it's just easier to portray a 100:1 ratio, using movie verse of yes you're right, 2,391. That would be about 24 human years, which is what he looked like. OMG, it was really late when I read your review the first time, and I was laughing so hard I was crying. "Now with a small town of men attached!" Lol, Legolas is like a hippie, with all the drugs! Haha, can't you see him at Woodstock, putting flowers in gun barrels and whatnot? Haha, "Please sit beside me!" That way he can keep his clean image and still get the effect. Ah, I'm a Yankees girl myself. They need to win the next two games! ! ! OMG, your dream, how funny is that? Gandalf would so be goalie. Lol, thanks for that really funny review!
ElvenRanger13: I can't tell you, sheesh. Ruin my plot. Thanks for the review!