A/N) Well, the chapter name has been changed, but do our elves find out the truth? Will Legolas be able to escape from Heran? Will the Shadow Elf's Identity be revealed?

Fear of Men

Chapter 6

Legolas' Guess: Is he Right or Wrong?

Legolas stepped out into the warmth of the sunlight, barely able to stop himself from tripping up when Heran pushed him forward. Somehow he managed to keep his balance. He heard a sound of disgust from his captor. Smirking Legolas, knew that he had irked the man. It was only the beginning of his 'revenge'. They would all pay. Eventually.

Stumbling down the mountain side, Legolas sought for a way to escape. Yes, though he was bound and blindfolded, he had a good change of escaping from Heran, though there was also a chance of Heran catching him.

Having been unconscious on arrival Legolas did not know where to put his feet and it seemed that Heran was taking great pleasure in making the elf trip and lose his balance. But his elfishness helped him, keeping him on his feet, displeasing the man.

"Keep walking elf. I want no trouble from you from here to Rivendell, alright?" Heran ordered.

"We probably won't get far to Rivendell." Legolas noted.

"Why?"

"The elves we search us out. We will meet them on the way."

Heran grinned. "Better for me then because then I will be able to watch the poor Ranger get hurt some more. It would be a shame to miss it."

Legolas growled between his teeth. "Each and everyone of you will pay for what you've done. Lord Elrond will make sure that you die. And if he doesn't do it, then I will. That's a promise."

Heran smirked, though all the same he felt a large amount of fear build inside him. The elf sounded so sure of himself; perhaps he should fear him. It would be unwise not to. Elves always kept promises. Always. Nothing could stop them once a promise had been made. He was in trouble if this one ever found him. He did not wish to die. Pushing the thought out of his mind, he pushed Legolas down the pathway; this time swinging his leg out and tripping the fair being up.

Legolas fell. Grimacing he ignored the taunts of the human and pushed himself to his feet. He had no choice but to go along with it until he got to Rivendell or stray travellers found him.

After descending down the pathway, Legolas at last felt the chilling breeze of the wind die away. The slope straightened out, and the Prince realised they were now at the bottom of the mountain.

"Don't make any trouble now." Heran warned. "Walk forward."

The man's grip loosened, however the Prince would not do anything to irk his captor. He could not risk Aragorn's life like that. In fact he didn't want to.

I will not let that man harm you again, Strider. Legolas vowed. If he does I will personally kill the one responsible.

No matter what Legolas thought, he knew that Deollyn would not pass up the chance to see Aragorn in pain. It was the sure way to get Elrond to do as he demands. And yet, did the elven lord know the real murderer? It had to be someone close to Lord Elrond. Hadn't it?

Thoughts puzzled through his head as Heran instructed him in the directions.

*****

The padding of feet could be heard.

The group of elves hastily hid in the trees, blending into their surroundings.

Elladan and Elrohir peered down from the tree; seeing a man and - what remarkable looked like an elf - walk past. Realization only hit when Elladan recognised the elf.

"It's Legolas! The Prince of Mirkwood!"

"What's he doing here?" Elrohir whispered.

"Don't you see? He's the elf accompanying Estel to Rivendell!"

Slinging an arrow, Elladan made a bead on the human; it was only the warning of his father that he didn't fire.

Quickly and silently the elves dropped down from the trees and surrounded the human and his companion.

Taken completely off-guard, Heran stopped in his tracks. His eyes grew wide as he saw the four elves surrounding him. He fumbled for his sword but Elrond's voice stopped him.

"If you want to live, then release your prisoner. You cannot fight us."

He knew it was impossible. Heran pushed Legolas forward. Elladan bent down and untied the Prince's wrists and then took the blindfold off.

Blinking as light came into his eyes, he shook his head before thanking Elladan and standing up. "Don't hurt him." Legolas ordered.

"Why not?" Elladan demanded.

"Because if he doesn't return to Deollyn then Estel will be killed."

"That is right!" Heran demanded. "So you'd better let me go, unless you want that young ones blood spilt!"

Elladan's eyes glinted but he didn't advance. With a nod from Elrond, Heran ran off back towards the mountains.

"We can follow him. Let him lead us to Estel." Elrond said.

Legolas glanced at the elves. "I could've stopped this. Everything. I should've protected him."

"You couldn't help it Legolas." Elrohir noted. "It is not your fault all this has come back."

"I feel....upset that I've doomed your brother. I see him as a friend, not as any man, but someone who I can rely on. I've doomed him to death. It's all my fault."

"What would your father say?" Glorfindel asked. "Would your father let you take the blame? No he'd find a way to lay it on himself."

Legolas smiled sadly. "I'm afraid that everyone in my family has that particular trait."

"True." Elladan said. "Come, we must make what time we have left to follow this man."

*****

Never in all his life had Aragorn been really afraid. Deollyn had pushed him roughly into a stone room, where he had been left alone. There was a cave in the far side, built into the room, and from there he could hear the sounds of a horrible tongue. Trembling from head to foot, Aragorn watched as more then forty Orcs piled into the room surrounding him. Yet they did not attack him.

A cruel laughter was heard above him, and glancing upwards Aragorn saw Deollyn standing on a small balcony that was carved into the wall. "I suppose you're wondering how I can control these Orcs?"

No answer. However Deollyn continued.

"These Orcs have been promised your Ada and brothers if they do what I say, by my benefactor. If not then they will not get their reward. For their patience, I'm letting them test their unique skills on you."

Aragorn gulped looking around at the hideous beast, fear winding itself round his heart. He had never felt the beating blows of the Orcs before - in fact he didn't even want to, but by the looks of things he had no choice - as they stepped forward, encircling him, preventing any means of an escape.

Above Deollyn chuckled. "Let's see how long you survive? Shall we?"

As the words left the man's mouth, a clawed hand sailed towards the Ranger, impacting on his chin, sending him crashing into another Orc who held onto him firmly. Over come by fear the Ranger could not move; his mind told him to fight, but the fright inside him was controlling him; he could do nothing.

The Orcs threw him to the cave floor, planting a steeled boot on his back, preventing movement. He lay there, struggling, but could not escape the iron grip of the Orcs. He heard the sound of chuckles and evil words in a language he could not understand, and then the whish of a whip striking against his back. His eyes went wide, stifling a gasp; he held his breath waiting for the next strike.

To him it was a whole day until the beating stopped and the Orcs let the blood-stained whip fall at their side, yet the beating had only lasted no more then fifteen long and agonising minutes. He turned his head slowly, seeing the dried blood that stained the whip. His back ached with pain, and yet his torment was not yet over.

Pulled to his feet Aragorn grimaced with pain as his back was forced straight.

"What? Can't the little whelp take the pain?" Deollyn taunted, looking at Aragorn with a ruthless smile playing in his eyes.

His eyes glazed Aragorn stared at his tormenter before taking one last gamble. His strength gone but his will to live still burning, Aragorn leapt to his feet, running past the Orcs and hitting out at one, catching it in the throat and sending it away.

Seeing their toy escape them the Orcs pursued.

Deollyn laughed as he watched the commotion below him. He was enjoying this very much.

He had not where to go, and Aragorn realised that there was no escape for him. Even as he ran into the cave where the Orcs came from, his eyes caught the flashing of steel. Swords! Strength spent, the young man wasted no more time, and picked up a sword, standing in a defence position, as the Orcs approached.

One rushed at him; he cut that one in half, beheaded another, stepping back and trying to circle round them to get back out into the open. Even as he did so he didn't notice a slinking Orc come up behind him.

Something leapt onto his back and in his panic dropped his blade. The Orcs jeered, rushing him and pulling him to the floor.

They pulled him out of their cave and to the center of the room. Holding him down, one Orc approached holding a bottle in his hand. Another grabbed his face, holding it still. Struggling, he could not stop as the liquid was harshly poured into his mouth. Forced to swallow as one Orc held his nose, and covered his mouth. They wouldn't let him breathe until he swallowed the concoction.

The taste left in his mouth was horrible. His breathing came faster. Eyes diluted, and the shapes wavered in front of him. He whispered for help, but none came. He was spent.

His screams shook the cavern as the Orcs began beating him again, this time on his chest. He prayed for unconsciousness, but the drug given to him was keeping him awake. The Orcs did not want their play-thing to black-out yet. As he lay there Aragorn thought of his brothers and his father, but most of all Legolas, praying silently that they would find him and free him from his pain, like they had done all those years ago.

*****

The elves followed the trail up the mountain, winding round. Legolas stopped, a thought striking him.

"What is it?" Elrohir asked, sensing the Prince's discomfort.

"You don't know who killed this man's son? Right?"

A slight nod from Elrond.

"I'm guessing here, but is there anyone in your household who holds a dislike to humans, or who used to?" Legolas questioned.

"I don't think so." Elrond replied. "Glorfindel?"

The elder elf was thinking, as if remembering something. "Do you remember during the second age with Sîrfalas? How he did anything to stop you from going to war with Elendil? And how in his anger he killed many innocent children sequestered in Rivendell?"

"Yes. I remember now. And yet he came to me and apologized for his actions. He's held a deep loathing for men for ages, and I didn't see it. I thought he'd learn to live with them. Could it be? Could it really be Sîrfalas?"

"I asked him if he wanted to come with us," Elladan remembered, "to search for Estel, and he said no. He wanted nothing to do with him. Said he was busy with Orcs."

"Then he's the one we've been looking for." Glorfindel said.

"But why? What purpose has he got? Why go to all this trouble to hunt Estel?"

"That is what we've got to find out." Elrohir remarked.

"Then that is what we'll do," Elrond said. "myself and Legolas will continue, while you three will head back to Rivendell and collect Sîrfalas. Bring him here. We will attempt to stall Deollyn. Good luck."

They parted.

"I can't believe that Sîrfalas is the one behind this all." Elladan muttered.

"It's a possibility, but I'm beginning to believe that it is." Glorfindel said. "Don't worry we'll get the truth from him."

TBC

A/N) So is it really Sîrfalas? You're going to have to find out probably in a week's time! I just had to leave it on a really evil cliffy before I go on holiday; to keep you interested. Have no worries the next chapter