Not far away Gimli came running hearing Aragorn's desperate shout.

Aragorn searched for any other signs of his friend or of the orcs that took him. " Not again..." He whispered desperately.

" Aragorn?" Came the voice of Gimli. " We must not terry here. The lady has prepared the boats for us to leave with or without the elf."

" I will not let the orcs have him and let Saruman once again kill him! The last time he was taken he died, but he somehow came back to us. He never speaks of what had happened, but I don't really blame him for not doing so." Aragorn said quietly.

" I didn't know. I'm sorry Aragorn, but we have to move on with the journey. We all knew the risks when we volunteered. The elf probably knew more then the rest of us what he got into, and the consequences for coming with us." Gimli stated bluntly.

Aragorn wanted to retaliate, but he heard the truth of the dwarf's words. He was torn between the quest to lead the others, and that of the love of his friend, Legolas. He sighed and rose to his feet. ' Forgive me Legolas... I will come after you I promise. I will fight for you.' He thought. For now he would help the fellowship, but he would break off eventually to search for Legolas. " Hold on Legolas I will find you." He whispered into the wind.

Gimli headed off after Aragorn departed. They appeared at the docks where the rest of the fellowship already gathered. The hobbits stood gathered to together and conversed quietly with one another. Bromir stood and noted the grim expressions on both Aragorn's and Gimli's face.

" Where is the elf?" Bromir asked.

" He was taken by orcs..." Aragorn answered quietly.

All heads turned to Aragorn in shock hearing those words. ' Be strong Aragorn. He is a strong elf and he won't give in this time if he can help it.' Gladriel spoke into Aragorn's mind.

It seemed as if her mystical voice cleared Aragorn's mind for the moment. Little did he know that once they got to the shores that they were closer to their elven friend then he thought.

The opposite side of the shore the orcs with an unconscious Legolas trudged onwards ever closer towards the tower of Isenguard and the elf's doom.

Grysc halted the group and sneered at the elf as he just regained consciousness.

A groan escaped from Legolas as he tried to go back into the blissful darkness, but the orcs wouldn't let the elf escape.

" Stop for camp for the night and tie the elf up! Time for some fun, shame Saruman wants him alive." Grysc growled. He was unusual for an orc. His dressing was different then that of an orc, and he was taller then a normal orc. He had on black robes and a matching black cloak and boots. He was half human and half orc though the only visible features of his orc side was his tinted skin which he hid, his coarse black hair, and his gruff voice when he spoke in their language. The collar of his hood had a fine braid that was raven hair from an elf. " Time for some fun little elf."

No emotion showed on the elf's face as he stared defiantly into his captors face as he mind started to clear momentarily of the guilt and grief that consumed him.

The ' fun began as Grysc started to beat him brutally, hut stopped just before the elf lost consciousness. The human orc poured a foul tasting liquid down the elf's throat forcing to become aware once more as they started moving once more. They crossed to the other side of the river and met a second group of orcs.

TBC.....