A/N) A shorter chapter then the last one but the next part should be longer. Thank you to all those who have reviewed. I will reply to you in the next chapter, if I have time. I'm trying my hardest to have this story finished before my parents tell me to stop using the computer and writing stories to begin revising for my very, very important exams in May/June/July. Updates may come quicker or some may be late. I will be going on holiday from Monday 23rd to Friday 27th February and will have no access to a computer so I will not be able to update in that week. Hopefully this week I will give you two updates.
Well, now here is the third part to Fear of Men:
Fear of Men
Chapter 3: The Man Behind It All
A fierce headache pounded in his head as consciousness returned to endorse his body with pain made by the fierce beating of the Orcs earlier. Legolas groaned as a stab of pain washed through him. His headache lightened only a bit, but he forced his eyes open. He moved his head, slowly, studying his surroundings.
He was in a dark cell, two torches burned brightly off to the side, giving off nly a small amount of light. He was bound securely to the wall in which he was propped up against. His wrists were chained but so that he could rest them in his lap.
Then his eyes widened when he saw Aragorn in the same condition, but the chin holding the human's wrists and ankles were securely bound to the move so that he could not move them as Legolas could. The human was awake but he was shaking uncontrollably. He had a right to do so, as his shirt had been ripped from his body. From studying his friends frame Legolas could see that Aragorn had received a beating; dark bruises and cuts marred his chest, and some of them were still bleeding.
"Aragorn?" the elf whispered, hoping upon all hope that his friend was not to seriously injured.
The sound of his name jerked the young man back to full consciousness and he turned his head to find the source of the sound. His grey eyes found Legolas and a glimmer of hope could be seen in them briefly. "Legolas, you're still alive. I thought the Orcs killed you. I tried to help but I couldn't."
"Don't worry, mellon-nin, I am fine. All that matters is for us to find out why we are here, and men can control the Orcs. I don't understand why Orcs would follow the commands of a human!"
Even as he said that the door to their cell opened, and both companions looked up as a man strode into the room, his eyes shining in content as he studied the prisoners, and his laughter rose as his gaze fell on Aragorn.
Legolas risked a glance and saw with dismay that Aragorn's shaking had begun again, and he had pressed himself closer against the wall. "No, no, no, no......It can't be." he was whispering.
The man that had just entered was Deollyn.
*****
Aragorn had not expected this. He had not thought in a million years that it was Deollyn behind this whole thing. And yet he shouldn't be surprised. When the group of Orcs had moved off, later in the night, Aragorn had been forced to run again, while the Prince was dragged behind by the wrists. He had eventually lost count of the hours they had been running when familiar territory began to incase itself in his mind. The mountains that Deollyn had taken him to ten years ago were straight ahead. Taken up the mountain path and into a cave, Aragorn was surprised when their captors led him down a hill that was built into the mountain, leading downwards. Eventually they had come to a dark door with wooden bolts slid across. Pushed inside by the Orcs, Aragorn had attempted escape, giving his captors except from the fact no choice but to subdue him by hitting him until he had fallen into blackness. He had only woken when he'd heard the softness of Legolas' voice. As the door to the small prison opened and the young Ranger caught a glimpse of his captor, Aragorn's heart had frozen in fear.
The man that haunted his dreams.
Deollyn.
Deollyn was behind this.
"No, no, no, no......It can't be." he whispered.
Fear wound round his heart as he took in the appearance of the man. Deollyn had hardly changed, his hair was almost grey, apart from a few strands of black that fell about his face. His eyes were hard and cold, no longer full of laughter when his son had been around him. It was all gone replaced by a cruel hatred.
Looking around his prisoners, Aragorn could feel the man's gaze fall on him, and a cruel laughter could be heard.
Deollyn stepped forward closer to Aragorn. He grabbed the man by the hair with his right hand and with his left pulled a dagger from his belt, placing it on the Ranger's throat, letting the blade bite into his throat letting a trickle of blood fall down.
"Long have I waited for this." Deollyn hissed. But he did not cut the man's throat instead after a few seconds he pulled the dagger away and sneered. "Unfortunately I cannot kill you just yet. Not until I have answers from your little elven family. However I have some very blood-thirsty Orcs that would take pleasure in hurting either of you."
Scared and beginning to shake, Aragorn could barely hear what Deollyn was saying, but through the darkness came Legolas' voice.
"How could you command a patrol of Orcs? They don't listen to anyone."
Deollyn grinned and Aragorn could see a malicious gleam in his eyes.
"Quite simple. They were approached by my contact, an elf, that asked them if they wished to partake in a little experiment involving the elves of Rivendell. The elf was in disguise of course so they do not know what he looks like. If they helped us then the elf would lead them to Rivendell where they could attack it and claim the land for their own. Easy to control them as long as you have the right bait. As soon as the dear elves get their message about you, they will come and the Orcs will attack Rivendell. Bait as it is." Deollyn smirked as he finished seeing the disgusted face on the elf's features.
From what he had heard of this man, and what he'd done to Aragorn years ago seemed to fuel up inside him. Pulling against his bonds the Prince lashed forward, managing to hit Deollyn in the face, sending him crashing to the other side of the wall. Fury overcame the Prince, and yet he could not move.
Deollyn struggled to his feet. He called out, his voice ringing high: "Heran!"
A man opened the door to the cell. "Yes sir?"
"Subdue him!" Deollyn said, pointing at Legolas who was now sitting back down against the wall shaking with fury.
A few chains hang to the side of Legolas, just above his head, and Heran walked over, releasing one of the elf's wrists and pulling them above his head, clipping the manacles around the wrist and leaving him to dangle. The process was repeated with his other hand. This meant that Legolas could not lash out at Deollyn, only with his legs, but he dared not to.
Deollyn grinned stepping closer to the Prince. "Well, elf, it appears you have yet to learn your lesson."
Stepping back towards Aragorn, Deollyn let his fist fly towards the Ranger, hitting him squarely in the stomach, emitting a grunt of pain from his captive.
Unprepared for the blow Aragorn moaned, trying to stifle his cry, unable to he closed his eyes as Deollyn rained blows down upon him. Whatever it was, Deollyn's strength had increased. Even with his eyes shut, Aragorn could tell that Deollyn was enjoying this.
Suddenly the pain lessened and stopped altogether. Risking a glance Aragorn opened his eyes, seeing his captor hold a knife once more and press it against his cheek. The cold metal against his flesh was the least of his problems as Deollyn pulled it down, creating a rather deep wound on his face.
Blood ran freely from the wound, and from his agony the young human could hear Legolas pulling against his bonds, attempting to help him.
Legolas looked on abandoning the idea of attempting escape as Deollyn ruthlessly beat Aragorn. When the human cut his friend's cheek, anger flared through the elf, and without releasing it, leapt to his feet in an attempt to free himself.
Deollyn turned away from the Ranger and grinned at the elf. "Whatever you do, he pays. Whatever he does, both of you pays."
"You are sick." Legolas muttered, his blue eyes blazing in the dim light of the cell.
Glaring at the elf, Deollyn turned swiftly, hitting out against the Ranger, banging the man back against the wall and rendering him unconscious.
"Aragorn!" Legolas cried.
"You should really think about your actions elf." Deollyn hissed. "Let him go to the human, but keep him bound."
Before he left he turned back to the two companions and said: "Be careful, elf, anymore trouble from you and I'll give your little friend to the Orcs!"
Legolas did not reply, not trusting himself with an answer.
*****
Marihel crouched down beside a muddle of footprints, all crossing over one another. Not far off the twins searched the area. A little while back they had found Aragorn's sword, and signs that an elf had been with him, as they had found two knives and a bow and arrow.
He could not read the signs. Signing the man looked over to the twins, and decided to see how they were doing.
"Have you found anything?"
Elrohir nodded. "Yes, I have."
"Orc tracks leading towards the mountains. Possibly towards Deollyn's old haunt. My guess is that Estel and his friend have probably been caught. If it is Deollyn then he's controlling the Orcs." Elladan said, reading the signs. "Somehow."
"We must warn Ada about this. He'll know what to do." Elrohir replied. "We cannot hope to get them out, no matter how badly we know we can't leave him."
"We will come back for him," Marihel said, "I promise you."
Quickly, and urgently, the three companions gathered their horses, which were tethered nearby and rode off back to Rivendell, fear gripping in their hearts.
TBC
Chapter 4: The Choice - Deollyn gives Legolas a terrible choice. I'm not saying just yet.