CHAPTER 10
He despaired. Waking up from his stupor, he hoped that the voices he had heard were of his dreams. But alas, he awoke and found that the voices indeed belonged to Elrond and Aragorn. His friends, his rescuers. And now they were going to die. All because of him, and he was powerless.
Hanging there, spread-eagled in chains, he only felt despair. The darkness had won. His friends had come, knowingly yet willingly, to save him, unbeknownst of his unworth. He had failed to resist, and that failure hurt deeper than any injury he had yet received. Attempting to speak, he could only manage a pitiful groan, but was quickly silenced by the elf lord.
While he listened, unable to do anything else, he simply looked upon his friends. Aragorn, strong, silent, respectful of their privacy. A friend of many years, they had shared both life and near death, and had between them a bond that seemed impenetrable. They loved one another; not with the love that the man held for Arwen, but rather a love, just as strong as that, but more of deep friendship, long forged and solidified.
Elrond, a leader of man and elf, ancient on both wisdom and age, standing before his battered form, he radiated strength and power restrained. In his eyes, Legolas could read his inner conflict, but his face only conveyed resolve. In his future, in all of their futures. Upon his shoulders weighed the safety of not only his city, but also the well being of his people, and all the peoples of Middle-Earth.
Those words that Elrond kept speaking, about his purity and his light, how false it all was now. He hadn't given into the darkness, as the being, which he now deemed Shadow Lord, desired, but rather he had given up to the darkness. He had no will to live. And that would have been fine, if only his friends hadn't come. Now again he had reason to survive, if only to save them. But he was too far-gone, in mind, in soul, in body. How could he help them if he couldn't even help himself?
Even as he was thinking furiously, he began to shudder, as the darkness once again crept closer. He sensed the Shadow Lord nearby, and knew that Elrond had also, for soon he found Aragorn closer to him, supporting the trembling elf lord, speaking softly to him, questioning him. By the shocked look in the man's eyes, Legolas could tell that he had been alerted of their situation. Aragorn looked towards him.
Immediately, although he knew it was a fruitless endeavor, Legolas began struggling against his bonds. Not much movement was allowed, and he was still weak, but wanted to show his friends that he hadn't given up on them, even if he had done so on himself, he fought his bondage.
Seeing the futile effort that their friend put up, both quickly went to his side, the elf lord seeming to get his bearings once again, and all three worked at the shackles around his wrists and ankles.
"Stop struggling so, Legolas, you're going to start bleeding again." Even as he spoke, he saw small rivulets of red begin their way down the elf's arms. So focused were they on getting their companion out, that they didn't notice the figure behind them. The sound of slow, methodical claps quickly brought their attention back to their main problem.
Whirling around, all three soon faced that which had been haunting Legolas' dreams and reality. It was a hideous being of…nothing? How could this be? Aragorn cast a confused gaze at Elrond, but looking back at Legolas also, found both their attention squarely focused on that presence in front of them. He turned back, disturbed, for it almost seemed as if they were communicating, yet no sound could be heard besides his heart beat and Legolas' wheezing breaths.
Finally, the thing turned slightly to face Aragorn. It then spoke aloud, "Oh, and this is our hero, our man of great. I don't see what's so great about you." That it spoke out loud seemed to slightly startle the elf besides him, for Elrond gave a slight jump when he heard the voice. But so would anybody faced with such a horrid thing. Aragorn turned his attention back to the shadow thing, and replied in kind, "And if this thing in front of me is what I came to fight, I see that my efforts will be slight, and my worries unneeded."
That gave it pause, but it was only a second or two before it simply laughed. Both Elves shuddered more violently than they had been, and Aragorn felt a cold darkness seemingly creep into his heart from every limb. This was indeed a being of evil, to be wary of if not feared. He refused to show such thoughts.
"We know of your reason for capturing this elf, but I must tell you that all your efforts have been futile, for we don't fall easily." Elrond spoke this, and almost through a silent link, a shared thought, both he and the man began to separate and walk towards and around the being, man to left, elf to right.
"Ah, but I agree. He has been a disappointment, I must say, so I guess we shall have to dispatch of him." Quicker than either man or elf could see, the being had both bow and arrow readied at their strung up friend behind them. Before they could react, the thing loosed the arrow with deadly accuracy.