Chapter 5

In the hands of the enemy

Legolas stared hard at Kunai.

"What will this prove? Your plan will not work"

Kunai shook his head slightly. "Little son of Thranduil you never were the smartest of the family were you? Did you not understand why your wizard friend sent Eagles to your aid at the Black Gates?"

Legolas frowned.

"I thought not," Kunai continued, "he knows of the consequences if the Ringbearer and his companions would fall into the wrong hands. He called for the Eagles to protect them from such happenings, but as you can see they failed, because of you son of Thranduil as they were going to pick up the hobbits, but you thought yourself higher then the chief of Eagles and 'rescued' them yourself – and look were you are now! Trapped and in the hands of enemy! Some rescue, your highness!" Kunai laughed into Legolas beaten face.

"And some hero and protector you are turning up to be! Unable to even stand, bound and beaten like a beast – and they call you and elf! These two are more elf like then you. Don't think you name will protect you. Theses are men are the dangerous and evil criminals men locked away; they care not for who you are or where you are from they just follow my orders and will earn their rewards at the end"

"The end of what, their lives? Or when Sauron has rendered you all unworthy and useless? Do you really believe that you will earn respect and rewards from Sauron? Any reward you shall receive would be death" Legolas pressed.

"Scared, Legolas?"

"I have no fears"

"Then why did you run from my soldiers? If you were a brave elf as the stories say then surly you would have stood and fought, but instead you ran like a coward"

"Even the bravest must run"
"The most cowardly always run"

"Legolas is not a coward he has fought many battles in my company and come out unscathed." Sam stood, defending his friend.

"Indeed so he may have, but it seems his luck has turned" Kunai sneered eyeing up Legolas' beaten form.

"My Lord are you sure there is nothing that can persuade you to stay?" Eówyen stretched her hand up to Aragorn's knee as he sat on his horse.

"No, my lady there is nothing"

"I pray that you will find them"

"Aye" He turned to his men standing behind, seated on horseback the two sons of Elrond and Gimli amongst them. "Let us ride"

Legolas lifted his head. He had sensed them riding from the White City, they were coming to look for them. Had they spent that amount of time on the road that the others had become worried? The hours slipped past in great jumps as he continued to drift in and out of unconsciousness. Had they been here days now? He could not tell, immobile against rocks and unable to see the outlaws scheming and plotting he was no longer able to tell how long they had sat in the enemy's hands.

 He looked around himself; it was early morning, pale sun beams fought through their way through nocks and crannies of the cavern eliminating a patch of stone near his feet. He stretched allowing his feet to be bathed in the warmth. He could hear the rise and fall of the Hobbits breathing off to his right, they lay curled tightly asleep. Sighing he turned away watching the pool of sunlight dance on his battered boots. The camp was silent, no one stirred or moved but yet he could tell they had deserted. The camp is a buzz in daylight, Kunai constantly ordering as if he was becoming restless, bored of waiting. Waiting for what, he had thought many times. But now he knew. Kunai had been waiting knowing that someone would come looking for them, expecting some of the Fellowship to journey with them. He stamped a foot impatiently they were riding straight into a trap and if they wouldn't return more men would be sent out including members of the Fellowship that set out from Rivendell almost a year ago. But there was nothing he could but wait. Wait and pray Kunai will not have his way. 

Slowly the camp came to life. Sam and Frodo stirred next to Legolas, still bound to his unmoving and heavy rock. His wrists had been rubbed raw and bled several times as he tried to free himself and relieve his aching limbs and sores. Sam took pity on him, but there was nothing he could do to help his friend but try to keep him occupied as not to remember the pain he was in. He had been doing this by talking about the Shire with great pride.

"And there's the Party Tree – you're like that Legolas. It a grand and wonderful tree where many parties are held underneath it year after year, including Bilbo's farewell party" Sam paused, recalling the party. "That's where it all began" he whispered, "Bilbo was giving a speech and said 'I'm leaving now, good bye' and vanished. That's when Gandalf knew he had the Ring"

"Yet it had been in his care for many years and he did not know" Frodo said behind him.

 "Do no blame either your uncle or Gandalf neither of them knew the dangers of the Ring at that time" Legolas reminded them as they all briefly thought of why didn't they destroy the Ring earlier.

"It was because Bilbo and Gandalf are old foolish creatures" Kunai said watching them.

Sam and Frodo threw evil glares but Kunai did not look at them, his glare was fixed on Legolas.

"I think it's time for some entertainment, and I have found my stars" Kunai sniggered.

Sam didn't like the sound of that.

 Men came forward and untied Legolas from his rock and pulled to his feet where he wobbled unstably but the men held him fast. They lead him outside into the bright sunshine that he had longed to see. His eyes squinted in the bright light, Sam and Frodo also struggled in the bright light. Though they knew there was a catch to be allowed into the open air.

Sam and Frodo were roughly pulled aside, their mouths forced open and shut over one of Legolas' elven blades.

Legolas watched planning.

 Kunai stood in between the elf and the two hobbits swinging an evil looking sword aggressively, each swing becoming larger and larger.

"I offer you a chance for freedom, my brother" Kunai said.

Legolas snorted.

"All you must do is free your small companions with your knives then you may go free. But in order to do this you must past me first. You will be unarmed."

Sam wanted to say something, but was unable to with a sharp blade in his mouth he wanted to keep his tongue.

 Legolas quickly looked around himself and began to plan, with Kunai ahead, swinging a horrid weapon, his own hands bound and unarmed.

'The Men may find this entertaining but I certainly don't' and he knew that the prospect of freedom was all lie Kunai had too much to lose.

Never the less the men around him started to shift, handling their blades keenly.

He was running out of time.

Do I play along and risk certain injury or not, either way I would come out more wounded then I already am.

  Before he could make up his mind Kunai charged, his sword set to kill.

 Legolas dived out of the way with seconds to spare. Kunai checked his speed and gave chase. At a run Legolas quickly jumped and pulled his hands underneath him, tucking his knees up so now his hands were bound in front of him once more.  Kunai charged and Legolas stepped back as the sword reached the peak of its arc. He kicked hard at Kunai's face causing him to stumble then he kicked again taking Kunai's feet out from beneath him. This bought him some time as he decreased the space between him and the hobbits before Kunai was upon him again. He sidestepped as the sword hit the stone ground and ricocheted away; Legolas kicked hard at Kunai's throat, and as Kunai struggled to breathe Legolas narrowed the distance again. He took a risk and removed the blade from Frodo's mouth and cut both his and Frodo' bonds. Kunai raced forwards as Legolas struggled to free his own writs, he had not seen or heard him approach.

"Legolas, behind you!" Frodo called as Kunai approached. Legolas reacted quickly sidestepping Kunai's blade, but unfortunately stepped the wrong way.

Right into the path of Kunai's sword.

 Kunai did not need to be told twice. He twisted the blade as it feel it its swing and bought it across the other elf' chest cutting a jagged hole. Blood stained the blade as he swung it away, but the weapon had done the job it had been designed.

Legolas pulled a hand away from his wound and looked at it in disgust. In his bloody hand he held a piece of shrapnel the same kind that he had discovered in the woods.  Then it dawned on him. They had set a trap for them in the forest the barbs were his, his that lamed his horse and injured Sam. Either way now even if he lived through this and was rescued these wounds that were being inflicted would probably kill him later. But he had to try for how would the Hobbits survive without him?

He snapped out of his trance as Kunai renewed his attack once more. He caught his blade hand with such speed that surprised Kunai. His eyes flickered to meet his both with surprise and fear. Legolas twisted his grip in Kunai's hand giving him a friction burn. Kunai's face contorted in pain. His grip slipped on the blade hilt and Legolas kicked him in abdomen and the blade came away in his hands. Quickly he cast away the sword and freed Sam, behind him Kunai screamed with fury.  

"Run" Legolas hissed pushing the hobbits roughly in front. He turned back to Kunai "Go!"

 Kunai lunched at him brutally and mercilessly.

Frodo and Sam ran without looking back, though their hearts yearned to help him.