A/N) Important notes at end of chapter!



The Forge of Friendship

Chapter 5

Escape and Capture



Night came swiftly over the camp.

Aragorn disappeared for a couple of hours leaving Legolas alone in the imprisonment of the man. The elf tried to sleep but the pain that his body had been put through was too much, and the aches and pains were only just beginning to hurt. His hands still bound but Aragorn had loosened them just a touch so that he could move them and get feeling back into them.

He was given no food or water for the rest of the day. He silently prayed that soon his torment would be over and the men brought to justice.



*****



"My lord, Mithrandir wishes to speak to you."

King Thranduil of Mirkwood looked up at the messenger. He nodded his thanks and ordered for Mithrandir to come before him. The wizard entered before the messenger had even left the hall. Somehow he had known that Thranduil would grant him entrance.

Gandalf bowed before the King.

"Mithrandir! What brings you here to my realm?" Thranduil asked. He had not been honored by Gandalf's appearance in years. "It's good to see you again, mellon-nin."

"I came here with Lord Elrond's foster human son, Aragorn son of Arathorn. We are both here to aid Mirkwood in this time of need. Thanks to Aragorn we now know the true purposes of these men."

Quickly the wizard explained that Aragorn had come to visit him earlier that afternoon explaining about the men's plans and what they planned to do with Legolas.

Thranduil was not pleased that his son was in the hands of the enemy, but happy that his son had trusted a human.

"What are we to do?" Thranduil asked.

"We will wait. Tonight, Aragorn is going to free Legolas and the other elves, and come back here. Then you can wound up a suitable batch of warriors and go speak to them. I do not wish for a fight between our two kindred's."

Thranduil thoughtfully. "Neither do I. We have worked too long to uphold the peace between men and elves."



*****



Midnight came and the camp was silent.

Aragorn crept stealthily into the tent that held Legolas.

The elf looked up sharply as the human entered. "Estel?"

"It's me." Aragorn confirmed. "I'm going to cut you loose."

The bonds fell away, and the human pressed two daggers into the elf's hands. "Here. I brought them back with me when I saw Gandalf earlier. You might need it."

The Prince gratefully took the weapons. "What now?"

"The other two elves are on the other side of the camp, being guarded by two men. All we have to do is sneak up on them."

The two companions slipped out into the darkness. Aragorn led them round the camp. No light could be seen, but the Ranger had memorized the layout of the camp during the day. Legolas followed, albeit at a slower pace, nearly tripping over a protruding piece of wood on the earth. He righted himself and followed once more, careful to trod carefully on the dry, hard land.

Within minutes both of the friends had reached the clearing where the other two elves were being kept.

"They look as if they are dead!" Legolas exclaimed.

"They do." Aragorn agreed.

Silently and stealthily they crept round the clearing hiding in the shadows of the tents.

The two guards were dozing lightly, and both friends rushed to a pole each, where an elf sat, bound securely.

Legolas moved round in front of one of the warriors and looked into the eyes. There was no emotion or life in them. But what was most confusing was that though they looked dead they were still alive. There pulse was running smoothly, but they seemed so empty.

"They've been drugged." Aragorn said. "I heard one of the men talking about it."

"What type of drug is it?"

"A truth potion."

Aragorn and Legolas untied the elves quickly and picked them up and carried them to the far side of the clearing.

As they reached the safety of the forest, Hayner, Doyni and their men stepped out of the forest, blocking their path.

Skidding to a halt, Aragorn dropped the senseless elf to the ground and unsheathed his sword. The Prince did the same for his two knifes.

Hayner stepped forward grinning ear to ear. "I guessed that you would betray us, Ranger. I was prepared for it. I took my chances that you'd try and escape tonight with the Prince. Well, you won't get away easily." He signaled to his men behind him. "Get them."

Almost immediately the two escapees were forced to back up as the men ran at them.

Aragorn brought up his sword, blocked, and swung his wepaon knocking the man full in the face, sending his opponent to the ground.

Legolas, ducked, rolled - straining his back as he did so - and stabbed ahead, letting one of the knives run deep into his opponents flesh. He got to his feet and ran towards Aragorn who was surrounded by a group of ten men, and was failing miserably to defend himself.

Aragorn turned swiftly ducking a blow aimed at his head, and shouted to Legolas in elvish. "Go! Get away from here! You must escape!"

The Prince did not heed the human's warnings only determined to escape with him.

Aragorn could see the resolve in the Prince's eyes and tried one last time as he fought desperately against the horde of men. "Go! Please! If you truly value the survival of your home you must leave! Please! If not for me, do it for your father!"

Legolas stopped in his tracks as Aragorn's words caught home. He could not leave the human behind! Not after what he had done! This was a choice he didn't want to make. He saw Aragorn as a friend, but not just any friend, an elf-friend. This was a man who valued the life of the elder more then his own.

Even as the Prince started forward once more he saw Aragorn fall to a hit to the head, and the Ranger's body sagged to the ground. He was unconscious.

In that moment the Prince's decision was final.

One of them had to escape, and he would be the one.

I'll come back for you Aragorn. I promise, Legolas thought as he turned away from the angry men that was now heading his way. The forest was up ahead. Gathering speed, he reached the wood before the men could catch him. He could hear curses as he ran deeper into the forest, but no sound could be heard of people running to catch him. His will was set. He would escape and come back for Aragorn and the other elves.

The other elves?

He halted in his tracks as guilt gnawed at him. He was supposed to have escaped with the other two elves. He'd failed them to.

It seemed that he couldn't help anyone.



*****



Consciousness slowly returned bringing new light to the meaning of a head-ache. Aragorn's whole body ached, and his head felt like there was a mountain ready to explode in his head, and spout out all the lava.

As his eyes adjusted to the light, he found himself tied to a pole in the center of the camp, where the other two elves had been held, his hands tightly secured behind his back, and to his surprise his ankles were secured as well.

Torches had been lit giving off an eerie effect. It was still night but it was beginning to lighten.

How long have I been unconscious? He asked himself as the nights events came back. His thoughts turned immediately to Legolas. Had he escaped? Was he safe? Was he dead? If the Prince had escaped all depended on him now. But did Legolas care enough to come and rescue him? Besides Gandalf wouldn't let him remain a prisoner here, would he?

Fear began to grip themselves around his heart as his mind forced him to remember his time with Deollyn. He had thought then that Elrond would never find him, but he had and helped heal him. But the elf lord was far away in Rivendell. No one could help him. Not even Mardil who had been killed because of his betrayal to Deollyn. No not even Marihel, Mardil's brother. He was alone. Utterly alone.

Aragorn raised his head as footsteps came towards him.

Hayner beamed down at his prisoner. He knelt down and grasped the man's chin. "So, Ranger, are you going to behave and tell us who you really are and what you real name is?"

Aragorn pulled away from the man and gave him a fiery glare with his silver eyes. "Never."

"I hoped you'd say that." Hayner said, "It gives me a chance to test my truth drug on you, and see if it works just as well on you then it does on a elf."

Doyni stepped forward and handed his brother a bowl of a foul smelling liquid. Aragorn stiffened. He did not have a chance, as another man grabbed his chin and roughly pulled his mouth open, allowing Hayner to pull the liquid in. He was forced to swallow.

He felt his mind becoming numb and tiredness crept over his eyes. He knew what was happening. The drug was making all his defenses helpless. Whatever they asked him they would get an answer to.

Hayner smiled as he watched the Ranger's eyes begin to fade and he went into the state of a deathless sleep. This would be better then hurting him with brute force. He figured that the drug would be effective, allowing the man easier to handle.

"Now," he began, "let's start with who you really are. Tell me, Ranger, what is your true name, and your parents? Where are you from?"

Aragorn's mind screamed to him to not say anything, but he could not. Bit by bit, Hayner's questions were answered, and Aragorn's fear increased.

TBC



A/N) A bit short chapter, yes, but necessary.

First I'd like to point out that it was originally going to be Aragorn escape from the men and Legolas caught, but I figured that it would be better if Legolas brings the news to his father. That way Legolas can decide who is more important: the elves or Aragorn?

The next chapter is going to be about Legolas' choices, who goes where, and what is happening to Aragorn and Hayner's and Doyni's opinions of what they's learned through their interrogation of Aragorn.

Next chapter will be up on Monday, hopefully, possibly Tuesday though.

Namarie, mellon-nins!