Into the Mines

By: Max Pilote

Chapter Nine - Thoughts and Messages

Waking up was a regrettable thing. For the first few seconds, Estel was hoping that he was lying safe in his bed in Rivendell, his father fussing over him quietly as he often did when the boy came home after such events. Slowly and reluctantly, he opened his eyes. Elladan was sitting with his back to the human, a concerned stare fixed on an object out of Estel's view.

"What are you looking at?" he asked Elladan quietly.

"I am worried for Legolas," he admitted. "We were knocked out shortly after we were defeated, and I am unsure if Legolas has woken up since. Are you all right? I might need your help when I come up with a plan."

The whole exchange had been said quietly in elvish. The last thing they needed at the moment was to anger their captors.

There was so much movement in the small area that the conversation did not reach Legolas's ears. He was awake, or rather half-conscious. The two sitting across the cave with their wrists bound saw that he was paler than usual, his natural glow almost diminished. The prince decided it would be wiser if he just acted unconscious. There was little they would do to him.

Elladan looked at Estel, "Are you hurt?"

"No," responded Estel, "and by the looks of it, you aren't either."

The older brother smiled and chuckled. The smile faded from his face as he turned to see an orc looming over him. Gripping the elf's arm tight, he pulled him up to his feet.

"What is happening?" asked Estel as he, too, was dragged to his feet.

"We're moving along," responded the creature.

Things were moving too quickly. Elladan could not catch a glimpse of Legolas as he, too, was pulled to his feet and stumbled along behind a rather large orc.

"If they so much as speak, punish them," stated the chieftain before he went to the head of the march.

The three orcs "lucky" enough to guard them had wicked smirks on their faces.

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Rymir watched Ryldor pacing back and forth in front of him. "You are making me dizzy, brother," said the elf with a frown. "Is this your favorite past time?"

"Please, let us save the taunts for when my goal is completed," responded Ryldor. "Are you ready for the next step?"

"If I die, then your soul can rot in the hell that is Mordor," said the brother as he stood from his perch on the boulder.

"Just get in there and cause some trouble. I don't care how you do it," stated Ryldor, stopping his pacing.

"Heartless bastard," muttered Rymir as he began to walk away.

"Watch yourself, little brother."

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Elrond stood on the balcony, a frown on his face. Elladan was not back yet. It would be of no use to send out a scout, for he knew not where his son was. Of course, Elladan could take care of himself. The human son had taken into his home was the one he was worried about.

"Estel...this loyalty and courage will serve you well," he muttered, "if you live long enough. You'll turn my hair gray."

Elrohir was sitting in a chair nearby. His father had helped him out of the room. Elrond was not the only one worried for the young Estel. The child was his brother. Maybe not by blood, but definitely by heart. Estel was his hope.

Then there was Elladan. Elrohir could feel his brother. He was in trouble, but he was unsure as to what kind. They had been together since birth. It felt so odd to be sitting on the balcony without him.

Would the orcs claim his brothers?

Elrond frowned and said, "If Estel isn't dead, I will skin him alive when he gets back here. Such a foolish act, even if it was for a good cause. That boy is going to get himself killed like that one day."

"No," said Elrohir with a smile, "because he has to be a king, a great king that will restore Gondor."

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Legolas stumbled forward and fell to his knees.

"Get up," commanded the orc.

"I can't," responded Legolas weakly. It was a large enough effort already to keep from passing out.

Estel turned as the orc grabbed Legolas by the hair, pulled him violently to his feet, and threw him against the wall of the cavern. Estel broke free of the grip, the ropes around his wrist snapping off as the orc attempted to grab at him. He rushed over to Legolas and knelt beside him.

"What is wrong, mellon nin?" he asked, laying his hand on the prince's forehead. "You're running a fever!"

He looked up at Estel, "They'll hurt you, Estel. Do not be so foolish on my account."

"Nonsense," replied the human.

The guard grabbed Estel by the collar of his shirt and pulled him backwards. A second pulled out a whip.

Elladan, who had just been watching, decided he needed to do something. He broke away from his own guard, as Estel had, and threw himself to his knees. The whip tore his shirt slightly. It left a small crimson stain on his shirt.

It fell across his back again, but he was determined not to cry out. It was up to him to seem strong...for his brother and his friend. As the whip struck his back again, he felt Legolas grip his shoulder.

"Move," said the prince, "this is my punishment, not yours."

"No," responded the Rivendell elf, "I will not let them hurt you."

Estel struggled to get free of the guards restraining him. "Stop! Stop hurting Elladan!" He felt pain in his own heart each time the whip fell down upon his brother's back.

Legolas looked horrified. He was helpless...

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A strange stinging sensation started in his back. He could feel pain...but he wasn't hurt on his back. The pain grew a little more and he winced.

"Ada...my back hurts," he said to Elrond as the elf-lord entered the room.

Elrond lifted Elrohir's shirt and frowned. Red marks were appearing on his back. They were faint, but there...

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Rymir ducked behind a rock and frowned as he saw what was happening. It looked as though he didn't have to start any trouble. Legolas had gotten into some on his own. It ruined his fun, though.

He watched as Elladan threw himself in front of Legolas. That elf would be so stupid as to sacrifice his life for someone? Did he really feel so strongly for him? Of course, Rymir would give up his life for his brother. Ryldor, however, did not feel the same way. If his brother was going to die, it was no big thing. He would merely replace him with another pathetic errand boy.

"Still, I have a job to do," he muttered to himself. He would spend the rest of his life trying to gain Ryldor's respect. Every younger sibling wanted to be deserving of that, right?

Rymir took out his bow and loaded it. Aiming carefully, he let the arrow fly...right at Elladan.

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The next few seconds happened so fast, it was...a blur to the three. Legolas was almost unsure what he had done. Strength coursed through him, as did rage and anger. He grabbed the whip as it fell to hit Elladan once more. It came out of the orc's hand with a jerk, pulling the orc with it for a few seconds. An arrow hit the creature in the arm. Legolas grabbed its blade as it fell forward and stabbed him in the chest. The blade fell from his weak hands and he collapsed back against the cave wall.

Looking around, Elladan spotted where the arrow came from. He nudged Legolas and jerked his head toward the rock Rymir was ducking behind. He hadn't expected the prince's next move, though.

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Elrohir frowned as he watched his father put on the light armor and hook his sword to his belt.

"Ada, are you sure you can do this?" he asked. "Are you sure this is smart?"

"Elladan should have been back by now, even with Legolas and Estel with him. I have no doubt that they were unsuccessful in their escape," replied the elf-lord. "It is another belief of mine that Ryldor has something to do with this."

"I wish I could come, Ada," said his son sadly.

"You have no reason to regret. Now, if you need anything, Glorfindel will be in to check on you," said Elrond with a smile. He hugged his son, strapped on his quiver and bow, then left.

Sure, it had been some time since Elrond had actually been to battle orcs. He did go hunting every now and then, but not as often as he used to. This was not going to stop him, however. He needed to save his sons: Elladan, Estel...and Legolas. The elf had grown so close to him and his family.

He was not going to let them die.